Affected by the terrible cold wave in the United States, nearly 700 bats returned to their habitat this Wednesday in Houston (Texas). The small mammals spent six days in the heat, in intensive care for some who were sick.
These bats of the species “Brazilian Molosser” were released under a bridge in the Texas city by the NGO Humane Society. On December 22, frost and temperatures unusual for the region had caused a “hypothermic shock” in their colony: unable to hang under bridges, the animals had fallen 5 to 10 m in height, according to the association.
Installed in a shelter and in an attic
10 to 12 cm long and weighing an average of 13 g, “they are tiny, have little body fat and cannot survive long if lying on the ground exposed to freezing temperatures,” Humane Society explained on social networks. The volunteers collected them. More than 1,500 bats were collected over the weekend.
They were placed in a shelter or in the attic of the director of the NGO, Mary Warwick. Most only needed warmth and hydration, but the worst affected were placed in incubators and fed intravenously. The vast majority survived.
The return of milder temperatures – 22°C this Wednesday evening in Houston – made it possible to free a first group at dusk, the moment of their flight for a nocturnal insect hunt. The others will soon be released under the same conditions.
