Hereford Bat Rescue - UK

28/08/2026

With all but one baby fully weaned (there's always one! 🙄) some of the juveniles are onto the next phase of development- practicing their flight and hunting skills. They all need to be proficient at hunting on the wing, ground launches, turning and manoeuvring in the air and sustaining prolonged flight. So far they've endured ridiculous temperatures, a pretty torrential downpour, a thunder and lightning storm, high winds and last night it was fog. Amazingly they're coping really well and the first outdoor batch will be due for release next weekend as long as they pass all their tests and are of a weight suitable for survival. Once released, food, water and shelter will continue to be provided for as long as they require. Meanwhile they're strengthening up their muscles and enjoying the change of pace. 🦇

18/08/2026

This is Pinkie. She's been a huge part of my summer since she arrived on the 1st of July at just a day or two old. She was pink and furless, like a baby bird, and was unable to feed like my other bat pups. I had to employ a sucky blanket to get her to feed at all. Later she progressed to a teat and in the last 3 days shes finally decided to progess towards live food. She's very bonded to me and is always first in line for feeding and attention. Today I tried to return her to her quarters three times so I could check and feed her bedfellows. Three times when I reached into their home she crawled or hopped back onto my hand as she wasn't finished eating, drinking or generally exploring and, to her, I'm that source. I have wept over this bat pup - willing her to live, grow and mature - and she's nearly there, nearly ready to leave me, a tiny miracle about to make her own way in the world. To you she's probably a slightly scruffy looking bat; to me she's my world. She's going to break my heart 💔🦇.

14/08/2026

With over 20 bat pups getting ready to brave the wild, bat boxes are going up to help support a range of bat species. This one is a hefty 12kg and with several compartments inside can not only support a good amount of bats but can also double as a maternity roost. Wouldn't that be amazing?!

14/07/2026

Sunday was a fun day when a few of the bat care network gathered for a coffee, chat and to help feed some of the 25 bat babies in care. They obviously dressed appropriately 😂

10/07/2026

Chaos reigns here as the seven eldest pups begin to learn there's more to life than milk! They're still getting plenty of milk back up but are also having lessons on munching. Appearances made by: Coco, Harald, Chancer, Leo and newbie Eddo. It's highly entertaining, but slightly bonkers! 😆🦇
Meanwhile the heat sends more my way - two additions today...so far. Up to 24 as of today!

02/07/2026

A few of the 'Skirrid 12' just having been fed. This group appeared on Sunday night having been found in holiday accommodation. The finders managed to contact us just in time as the heat had driven them out and they were all emaciated. Happy to report they're doing well and they like to keep an eye on me whilst I feed the whole colony. We're up to 20 now with pups from Brecon Cathedral, Llanelli Reservoir, Leominster and Madley. There's a few that are struggling and take extra effort but this bat mum is persevering, napping when she can and soldiering on. Wish them well as they navigate their baby weeks 🥰🦇

28/06/2026

Busy times for us at Hereford Bat Rescue - UK. Daily calls and four babies in care. Here's three of them waking up for their breakfast. A pipistrelle pup in the background and two Natterer pups in foreground who tumbled out of Brecon Cathedral Bell Tower!
If you find a bat that you think is in distress please call the National Bat Conservation Trust helpline listed above. Like us they are volunteers so please be patient. We are not funded in any way so cannot always collect bats from outside our area (I'm thinking of someone who wanted us to fetch a bat from Birmingham!). If you message our page we won't always see it so please ring the helpline first.
These little cuties are ready for second breakfast now and doing well. They were joined last night by another who is a bit camera shy!

02/04/2026

04/05/2025

A few members of the group joined Herefordshire Bat Research Group for some box checks. As we predominantly get pipistrelles into care so it's a great opportunity to encounter our other bat species within the county which we look after less often. Thank you Denise for another fantastic day!

17/04/2025

We had an early Easter treat last Sunday. We are very lucky to have the highly experienced Erika on our team, who kindly spent the day teaching us about UK bat species and bat rehabilitation. Such a fab day and we all learnt so much. Whilst not all the team could make it, here's a group shot of some of the batty crew! 🦇