CeeJayee's Critter Care & Wildlife Education Center

We have several species of bats in New York. Bats are the only true flying mammal.

(I have included some "bat vocabulary" from this page at the bottom).

These include: the Silver Haired bat, Seminole bat, Eastern Red bat, Eastern Red bat, Hoary bat, Indiana bat, Eastern Small-footed bat, Little Brown bat, Northern Long-eared bat, Eastern Pipistrelle & the Big Brown bat.

All belong to the

Order: Chrioptera

Family: Vespertilionidae

Silver Haired bat Seminole bat* Eastern Red bat

Genus: Lasionycteris Genus: Lasiurus Genus: Lasiurus

Species: noctivagans Species: seminolus Species: borealis

Hoary bat Indiana bat* Eastern Small-footed bat

Genus: Lasiurus Genus: Myotis Genus: Myotis

Species: cinereus Species: sodalis Species: leibii

Little Brown bat Northern Long-eared bat Eastern Pipistrelle

Genus: Myotis Genus: Myotis Genus: Pipistrellus

Species: lucifugus Species: septentrionalis Species: subflavus

Big Brown bat

Genus: Eptesicus

Species: fuscus

* The Seminole bat had only one known record in NY, according to the Checklist of Mammals for New York.

* The Indiana bat is endangered - in NY & federally.

* The Eastern Small-footed bat is of special concern.

Bats are fascinating to watch. Many people are afraid of bats because they think bats will attack you. This is normally not true. Bats, like all mammals can get rabies, so we should be careful of exposure to bats. If you touch a bat, you are condeming it to be killed & checked for rabies - if it is caught. It is best to allow bats to go about their business & watch them from afar. There are many reasons a bat may scare you. One of them may be that you find a bat in your house. If no one has been EXPOSED to the bat, it is best to open doors & windows if possible & turn lights on. The bat will fly out on its own & you will not need to touch it. However, if there has been an exposure, the best thing to do is have the bat tested. Especially if it is found in a child's room.

I attended a fabuolous Bat rehab seminar when I went to the conference & look forward to being able to work with them one day!

My current goal is to get caging for bat rehab & my inspection. As an RVS rehabber, I plan to focus on bats. I am hoping to attend Bat Bootcamp next yr. Any donations toward caging, bat rehab supplies, the seminar, anything would be so greatly appreciated! I will gladly added you to my donators list;)

Some bat specific things I am currently trying to get are:

Would love to get a couple of these - I have seen them in bat rehab pics! They are popular. I have heard they are GREAT for bats!! They are expensive tho:( My goal is to have 3-4 someday;) LOL

Also these. These are cheaper. And great for pick-ups, transport, temp. housing, quarantine, etc. My goal for these is to have 4-6. With an extra few for keeping in the car. If you choose to order one (or more;) of these for us, please be sure to order the BAT style. :)

And here is a list of some bat rehab supplies. On this page, I am looking to get - the Bat Biology & Conservation book, curved eyeglass droppers, vital HN, Vionate vitamin supplement, Reptariums - I am HOPING to get (eventually) - 2-3 = 22gal, 2-3 = 38 gal, 2-3 65gal. I would also like 2-3 of the largest - 260 gal. Also want to get the Captive Care & Medical Reference for the Rehabilitation of Insectivorous Bats book (You can als get this book at Bat World - I also hope to get the supplement to this book - which is on the Bat World site), Willowbrook Wildlife Center Pharmaceutical Index book, and zoologic milk matrix 33/40.

And of course, along with bats & bat caging, you need bat cage supplies! We need several of bat pouches. See them on this page. (Right side, 3rd down). You can also find the Medical Reference & it's Supplement on that page, as well. (Right side, 1st & 2nd).

As you will see by checking out any of these things, rehabbing bats (esp. starting out;) is not cheap. Money aside though, more for me, it's my heart. Losing any animals is heartbreaking, especially one you have put time & tears into trying to save. I hope to be able to make a difference for these wonderful little beings.

I am also hoping to find or get a couple dog pens - pretty decent sized, so I can enclose outdoor flight pens in them. Or some kinds of large shed or supplies, that I can make pre-release caging out of.

I need netting - soft kind with small holes that bats could not get through. This would be used to cover my in/out door to prevent their escape.

Tarps.

Other things I am hoping to get to help with public education, etc, are:

About Bats (book)

Bats in Question (book)

Bats of the World (book)

Outside & Inside Bats (book)

Guide to Eastern Cave Bats (book)

Bats in American Bridges (book)

The Bat House Builder's Handbook (book)

Probably some stuff I have forgotten here;)

I will add more information soon on bat exposure. In the meantime, if you have a question, you may always email. me.