When pups arrive they are fed rejuvenating fluids and if all is well, they then have bat milk formula every few hours. Over the weeks, as they progress, I gradually drop the feeds to four times a day, then two, and eventually, one evening meal suffices, with milk still being offered and enjoyed by most of them.
The attached photo is of ‘Milky chops’, a Natterer’s bat, just after he was fed. As soon as my bats have finished their meal, I clean them up with a damp, soft artist’s brush, but couldn’t believe how messy our little Natty was after each meal – hence the photo…lol! He really enjoyed his milk meals and would slowly fall asleep in my hand after eating. In the wild, a mum will continue to feed her pup milk until the pup is weaned.
My little Natterer’s bat was found and rescued by a kind nurse at Salisbury Hospital. He was found in a hospital corridor: he was underweight and couldn’t sustain flight, but was soon eating well and slowly gained strength. Thank you Claire for rescuing him.