Chapter Six

LIGHTING
The basic principles of lighting, as described in Chapter 5, also apply to infants. Whether baby bats are handraised at home or in a windowless office, they should be exposed to the same photoperiod as the person doing the handraising.

TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY
Most pups should be maintained at temperatures between 80 and 85F (27 and 29C), and at relative humidities of 55 to 80%. Many zoos place baby bats in incubators; most however, die of dehydration when housed in these devices. Temperature and humidity levels appropriate for newborns are best maintained by placing them in a small cloth sack (or cloth "roosting cave" as described by Lollar, 1994), which is then pinned to a T-shirt worn by the surrogate parent; a second T-shirt may be worn over the first when temperatures are cool [e.g., below 80F (27C)]. Flying foxes should be wrapped in a cotton cloth (FIG. 42), such as a diaper, before being placed in a sack. To prevent a pup from escaping, sacks must be secured at the opening. Although this method is easy and extremely successful, the major problem is the potential for crushing a pup. For this reason, the pup must be transferred to a nursery container (described below under CAGING) during the night.

WRAPPING INSTRUCTIONS   Fold a cloth diaper, or other appropriate material, to form a triangle.  Center a piece of folded tissue so that it will fit easily between a flying fox pup's legs.  Place the pup on the folded diaper and tissue as shown by the dotted lines in Step 1.   Fold one corner of the diaper around the pup's body.  Place the pup's feet in such a way that it can grip the diaper and, A) tuck the tissue between the pup's legs and underneath the diaper while,  B) folding the bottom corner of the diaper to cover the pup's feet (Steps 2 and 3)   Fold the remaining corner around the pup's body firmly (Step 3).  Be sure to cover the back of the head as shown in Step 4.   Place the wrapped pup, head down, in an appropriate carrier or incubator.

Figure 42.  Procedure for wrapping flying fox pups (after George, 1990).

Heating pads work best for maintaining warmth in nursery containers. When handrearing pups of large flying fox species, place the heating pad inside the nursery container. The heating pad must be well insulated, and at a setting that will achieve the required temperature. Always monitor pads closely as they can malfunction, resulting in fatal burns.

Pups of small bat species can be kept warm by placing the nursery container (e.g., small styrofoam cooler) with the pup in a larger cooler with the heating pad wedged between the walls of the two coolers (FIG. 43). The insulating properties of the two coolers also protect the pup against rapid temperature changes when the heating pad has to be unplugged for short periods. If the two-cooler system is not used, then a heating pad can be placed between the nursery cooler containing the bat and a wall. Do not place a heating pad directly inside a small cooler because even at the lowest setting, the pad generates enough heat to produce hyperthermia in the pup.

Figure 43.  To prevent overheating a pup with a heating pad, place the small cooler (a) containing the animal in a larger cooler (b).  Wedge the heating pad between the two coolers as shown by the arrows above.  If the two-cooler system is not used, then place the heating pad between a wall and the cooler containing the bat (illustration from Barnard, 1992).

Place nursery containers with pups in a room small enough that humidity can be regulated with a fine-mist humidifier (e.g., DuroTest®). Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the proper care of the humidifier.

CAGING
Styrofoam coolers generally work best for handraising bat pups. They are readily obtained, inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes, provide excellent insulation against temperature fluctuations and drafts, are lightweight, and can be modified easily for a variety of species. However, I have had adverse reactions from contact with colored styrofoam coolers. Such adverse reactions may also occur to bats when housed in them; therefore, use only white ones.

Coolers can be ventilated by punching holes in them (from the inside to the outside) with a hot nail, ice pick, pencil or similar instrument. Holes should be placed about 3 or 4 in. (8 to 10 cm) from the top and around the entire container in one or two rows. Make the holes small enough to prevent a pup from escaping. Always keep the top of the styrofoam cooler taped securely when a bat is in it. A pup's claws are sharp enough to enable it to climb on the sides of the cooler, and as it grows it gains the strength necessary to push the top open.

For proper growth, juveniles require room to exercise. Juveniles of crevice-dwelling species can be transferred to large styrofoam coolers temporarily while they are learning to self-feed, but it is preferable to place them in the cages typically used for housing crevice-dwelling adults (see Chapter 5). Small flighty species may be weaned in large styrofoam coolers that have been modified with a sleeve (FIG. 44). Flying fox juveniles require an intermediate step while they are learning to feed themselves. For example, cockatoo-sized bird cages are excellent for this purpose (Williams and George, 1984). Any weaned juvenile scheduled for release (see Chapter 2) MUST be housed in caging that permits sustained flight.

Figure 44.  Pups of "flighty" species can be weaned in large coolers modified with a hole and shirt-sleeve cover.  In this way, the cage can be cleaned and bats handled with a minimal risk of escape. Click image for full view.

BEHAVIORAL CONSIDERATIONS

Some newborn pups (e.g., those in the genera Desmodus, Eptesicus, Lasionycteris, Molossus, Nycticeius, Myotis, Tadarida) prefer relatively "tight" places in which to roost; therefore, place one or two pillowcases or T-shirts (without frayed edges) inside the nursery container. Some pups, such as those in the genera Artibeus, Carollia and Lasiurus, must have at least one small tree branch mounted in the cooler (FIG. 45). Still others (e.g., Pipistrellus spp., Macrotus spp.) prefer to roost on the vertical surfaces of their nursery containers, in the open areas, and therefore it is not necessary to place "furniture" in coolers housing them. Although newborn flying fox

Figure 45.  Pups of species that roost naturally on horizontal surfaces require a branch on which to roost (or mesh-lined container top) to prevent them from soiling themselves with their own excrement.

pups should be wrapped in a diaper or other appropriate item (FIG. 42) before placing them in a nursery container, this is unnecessary after they reach 3 weeks of age. At that time they should be transferred to a larger container, such as a mesh-lined pet carrier (FIG. 18) or wire cage. This is the age where they begin wing flapping. Pups at this age still require a security cloth, hung inside the carrier, to provide them a place in which to sleep (Williams and George, 1984). When rearing more than one pup at a time, separate them if they begin sucking and/or urinating on each other. Most species should remain solitary until they are about three weeks of age, or until they are weaned (see Chapter 8, TABLE 9). Vampire bats and flying foxes should remain solitary until they are about 12 weeks old, or until they self-feed.

REINTRODUCTION
Captive-born, handraised bats, such as those in zoos, may be returned to the captive colony under close supervision. Young (1987) gave an account of the reintegration of an orphaned Rodriques fruit bat (Pteropus rodricensis). Occasionally, a colonial bat (e.g., Eptesicus fuscus), may not adapt to living with others after being human-reared. These bats may be less stressed if housed alone. Such bats are excellent resources for educational programs. It is best that solitary-dwelling species not be placed with companions.

Rehabilitators who are raising wild orphans, other than fruit bats, should not consider reintroducing them into WILD colonies unless the rehabilitator is involved in legitimate release studies (see Chapter 2, ASPECTS OF REHABILITATION AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR RELEASE). For appropriate procedures for releasing flying foxes, see George (1990). When a handraised flying fox cannot be reintroduced into its colony (captive or wild), it should be housed with at least one companion of its own species and same sex whenever possible. Such bats should also be provided "toys" with which to play. "Toys" may include draped towels, woven hanging baskets (FIG. 46; these also serve as holders for food and water bowls), and cardboard centers from paper towel and toilet paper rolls.

Figure 46.   Behavioral stimulation is necessary for flying foxes, beginning at the time of weaning.  A variety of items can be placed in their cages to satisfy their need for "play" including wicker baskets which also serve as holders for food and water bowls (photo courtesy of Sean Sanders, Montevallo, AL).

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