Bat Rescue WA

For more contacts in WA both regional and metropolitan please see our pinned list of contacts at the top of our social media page 🦇💜

Bat Rescue WA
Kanyana Wildlife
Wildcare Helpline

Darling Range Wildlife Shelter WA

🦇 It’s International Bat Night! 🦇

This weekend, 29–30 August, is a global celebration of bats — a chance to shine a little light on some pretty amazing (and often underappreciated!) little mammals.

We don’t see many bats come through the doors at Darling Range Wildlife Shelter, but as luck would have it, we had a tiny bat visitor just this Tuesday. After assessment at DRWS, it was transferred to Kanyana Wildlife for further treatment.

And while we may not see them very often, there are plenty of bats quietly going about their business after dark.

Nine species of microbat are found in south-west WA — including Gould’s wattled bats, southern forest bats and the rather fabulous-sounding chocolate wattled bat. 🦇

These little guys are nocturnal insect hunters and play an important role in keeping insect numbers under control. Some are incredibly small, and you could quite easily have them living and feeding around your neighbourhood without ever knowing they’re there.

Unfortunately, like so much of our wildlife, bats are affected by the loss of natural habitat and tree hollows.

That’s where habitat boxes can lend a helping hand. 💚

DRWS has microbat habitat boxes available for sale, providing an alternative daytime roost where suitable natural hollows are limited. So if you have room for a little extra wildlife real estate at your place, pop in and have a look at our boxes.

🌙 Want to learn a little more about local bats?

has put together a great resource — including the species we have locally, where they live, the threats they face and how we can help:

👉 Bats – https://www.ccwa.org.au/bat_monitoring_program

So this International Bat Night, head outside around dusk, look to the skies and spare a thought for the tiny night shift heading out to work. 🦇💚

Happy International Bat Night!

Happy International Bat Night 🦇

Enjoy this cute pic of a Lesser Long Eared Bat 💜

Kanyana Wildlife

WA Wildlife

A message to our community regarding bird admissions and H5 Bird Flu.

We've recently become aware of some confusion and misinformation circulating within the veterinary community regarding the management of wild birds during the H5 Bird Flu response. Specifically, some people have been left with the impression that WA Wildlife recommends euthanasing all wild birds.

This is not WA Wildlife's approach.

WA Wildlife, along with the majority of the wildlife rehabilitation community, continue to assess birds on a case-by-case basis. At this stage, since there have been no recorded community cases of H5N1 in WA, birds can still be successfully treated, rehabilitated and returned to the wild, and we remain committed to providing that care wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.

To protect our staff, volunteers and wildlife patients, we have strengthened our biosecurity procedures. This includes the use of P2 masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when handling birds, with additional precautions for higher-risk species such as pelagic seabirds.

As the situation evolves, veterinary clinics and wildlife hospitals may implement different biosecurity measures depending on their facilities, staffing and risk assessments. WA Wildlife will continue to work closely with government agencies and adapt our procedures in line with the latest scientific evidence and official advice.

Thank you to everyone who continues to report sick and injured wildlife. Your vigilance is helping protect both wildlife and our community.

If you find a sick or injured bird, please do not handle it but contact WA Wildlife or your local wildlife rehabilitation organisation for assistance.

Our fuel costs have increased significantly as our ambulance is now on the road 8-10 hours each day picking up sick and injured birds. If you want to support our response please donate here:

https://wawildlife.org.au/support/bequests-and-donations/

🦇 Did you know?

The Lesser Long-Eared bat's impressive ears aren't just adorable 🥰 they're one of its greatest hunting tools.

Unlike many bats that rely mainly on echolocation, lesser long-eared bats are expert "gleaners." Their oversized ears are so sensitive they can hear tiny insects rustling through leaves or crawling over bark, helping them pinpoint prey in complete darkness✨

Sometimes, listening is even more important than echolocation. Nature has equipped these tiny nocturnal hunters with one of the best sets of ears in the bush! 😍🦇

A great size comparison of an adult Southern Forest Bat next to a 20c coin! 🦇🌙

During winter, you may come across microbats in a quiet, inactive state. This is usually due to torpor a short term energy saving state where a bat's body temperature, heart rate and breathing slow right down to conserve energy when food is scarce and the weather is cold. Think of it as their version of a deep sleep, similar to hibernation but often lasting for shorter periods.❄️💤

If you find a bat that appears to be struggling, is injured, or is active during the day, please do not handle it yourself. ☺️

For advice and assistance, contact us at 0426 134 908 or call the Wildcare Helpline on (08) 9474 9055. Our contact numbers are also pinned at the top of our page. We'll help connect you with your nearest licensed and vaccinated bat rehabilitator. 📞

🦇Happy Bat Appreciation Day! 🦇

Bats don’t always get the love they deserve, but they play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy pollinating plants, spreading seeds, and controlling insect populations. A single bat can eat thousands of insects in one night, which is pretty incredible when you think about it.🐾

It’s also important recognizing the people behind the scenes rehabilitators, researchers, and conservationists who step in when bats are injured, displaced, or threatened by habitat loss and disease. Their work quietly makes a big difference.
If you’re celebrating today, even small actions help: learning about local bat species, supporting conservation groups, or simply sharing awareness like you just did.💜

Those flying mammals really are worth appreciating 🥳