Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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April 2012
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WIN! Books and products FEATURE! Megabats FEATURE! Microbats NEW! Classified section NEW! Interactive issue! Tube Nosed Fruit Bat Pup Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
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Contents
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Trowunna Wildlife Park
Trowunna has been conserving and rehabilitating native Tasmanian wildlife since 1979 and we have successfully rehabilitated countless orphaned native wildlife such as wombats, Tasmanian devils, quolls and a variety of birds to name a few. Trowunna has been operating successful breeding programs, specifically Tasmanian Devils and quolls for over the past 25 years. Trowunna’s Devil population is of highest priority due to the breeding success since 1985 and is recognised as one of the longest continuous breeding programs of any species in the world under studbook conditions. 1892 Mole Creek Road, Mole Creek, Tasmania 7304 Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Telephone: +61 3 6363 6162 Fax: +61 3 6367 6213 E-mail: info@trowunna.com.au Page 5
Publisher’s words A magazine begins with an idea! This issue we decided to do it on Reptiles and Amphibians – it never happened. At the beginning of our decision we decided to do a small segment on Australian Bats and so we set about researching for this article first before anything else. To our unexpected surprise we discovered a whole community of dedicated, specialised individuals who devote their lives looking after Megabats (flying foxes, fruit bats) and Microbats (little bat species). Our experience was so remarkable we made up our mind to create the following magazine just about these individuals and the animals they care for and take you on our journey. You will discover extraordinary information and stories and gain knowledge of a thing or two along the way.
During the creation of this issue we stumbled upon an online service called ipage.com and went to work designing our own website - this is the result: www.wildliferescuemagazine.com We let some groups on facebook know, here is some lovely feedback on the website and the magazine – more can be found on our website in our testimonials section. “What a great magazine and a much needed resource. Keep up the great work! We will share your wonderful Magazine with all our PRC friends.” Parrot Rescue Centre “Thanks for your wonderful wildlife newsletter, which I have received via Ozark. You’ve done a great job. And yes, could you please advise me when following editions are available.” Val Bonner-Burrowes “Hi Andrea, I LOVE your site, I had a hard time getting past the home page with all those wonderful pics - Just MAGIC keep up the great work”. Corinna Wilderness Experience
Andrea Devos
“Andrea, you are awesome, we have needed something like this for a long time. It is people like you that really inspire me.” Inger Traberg I would like to extend a very special thank-you to Kevin Baker for his generous donations of his great book “Wombat In The House” - I sat down to read it and couldn’t put it down - I was mesmerised - you will find the book captivating, humorous and just plain enjoyable - therefore send in your wildlife stories for Issue 4 and receive a free copy of this book as our thank-you. We really want to thank Trudie Trewin for contributing her brilliant book ‘Camp Croc’ for the winner of the best story for Issue 3 - judged by YOU – our readers. For Issue Two - the winner of the ‘Best Story’ voted by our readers is ‘Cecilia’s Story’. Congratulations to ‘Terri Eather’ your reward of the enchanting book “Puggles” by Catriona Hoy is on the way!
Wombat in the House by Kevin Baker This 184 page book is the story of a wombat who decided to share a house with a family of humans. In truth, humans never have wombats. Wombats have humans. To win a free copy of this book – just email in your own wildlife rescue story complete with pictures to: andrea@wildliferescuemagazine.com Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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tTas Wildlife Rescue Publisher/Advertising 0413 587 613 Email info@wildliferescuemagazine.com Website www.wildliferescuemagazine.com Tas Wildlife Rescue magazine is published six times per year. Publisher Tas Wildlife Rescue Phone: 0413 587 613 Website: www.wildliferescuemagazine.com Editor Andrea Devos Production Artizen Image Design, Brisbane, Queensland Advertising Tas Wildlife Rescue Phone: 0413 587 613 Email advertising@wildliferescuemagazine.com Website: www.wildliferescuemagazine.com © 2012 The materials in this publication constitute Tas Wildlife Rescue copyright. Unless otherwise indicated, you MAY download the full magazine, store in cache, distribute, display, print and reproduce materials from this magazine in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice and any headers and footers that appear with the original materials) for your personal, noncommercial use or use within your organisation. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted in any form or by any means for Commercial Use without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright Act 1968 ©Tas Wildlife Rescue 2012 If you have questions about the use of this magazine or would like to apply for permission to use articles from this magazine for commercial use, please contact: info@wildliferescuemagazine.com The intellectual rights in all new material vests in the author or creator of such material. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process, or any exclusive right exercised, without the written permission of Tas Wildlife Rescue. Authors warrant that they are the owner of all intellectual property rights relating to all material supplied by them, their officers, servants and agents to Tas Wildlife Rescue. Authors hereby indemnify Tas Wildlife Rescue in respect of all actions, proceedings, claims and demands made against Tas Wildlife Rescue by any person arising from the use by Tas Wildlife Rescue of any material submitted to Tas Wildlife Rescue by the authors, their officers, servants and agents for publication in Tas Wildlife Rescue. The articles represent the view of the authors and the editorial represents the view of the editor. Other opinions expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Editor or Tas Wildlife Rescue. Please note that the material presented in this ezine has been prepared for the general information of the reader and should not be used or relied upon for specific applications without first securing competent advice. Tas Wildlife Rescue, its members, authors, staff and consultants, do not represent or warrant its suitability for any general or specific use and assume no responsibility of any kind in connection with the information here in. WARRANTY & INDEMNITY – Authors, advertisers and/or advertising agencies upon and by lodging material with the Publisher for publication or authorising or approving of the publication of any material INDEMNIFY the Publisher, its servants and agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication and without limiting the generality of the foregoing to indemnify each of them in relation to defamation, slander of title, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks or names of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of right to privacy AND WARRANTY that the material complies with all relevant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the Publisher, its servants or agents and in particular that nothing therein is capable of being misleading or deceptive or otherwise in breach of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974. ADVERTISING CONDITIONS - See advertising rates available at www.wildliferescuemagazine.com
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Contents Click the button to be taken straight to the page!
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11
A Spikey Dragon
Linda Dennis
43
Bionic’s Story
Jess Janson
14
Devil of a Project
Damian Byrne
46
Princess Possum
Terri Eather
16
Professional Trapping Supplies Morrie Walton
49
Ask Colette the Vet
Colette Harmsen
17
Hand-rearing the Megabat FEATURE
Jennefer Maclean
50
Funnies
Andrea Devos
27
The Orphans of Tolga
Jennefer Maclean
51
Facts About Bats
www.dse.vic.gov.au
33
Annie
Stella Reid
57
Trowunna Wildlife Park PHOTO ESSAY
Andrea Devos
36
Orphaned Flying Fox Rescue
Robin Wingrave
67
Australian Bat Lyssavirus
Donated
38
Slick the Comorant
Dr Sarah Brett
69
Hand-rearing the Microbat FEATURE
Amanda Lollar and Andrea Devos
40
Old Man Possum
Brenda Marmion
92
Classifieds NEW
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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A Kanga A Day
April 2009 – March 2012 Rufus! Released in January 2009 and last seen in July that year, was sighted on the hill earlier this month. Rufus was raised by first time carers, Jane and Kevin Baker, and is the subject of a delightful book by Kevin called “Bigfoot in my Bed”. Photo by Brett Clifton RECEIVE DAILY PICS AND STORIES LIKE THIS ONE Sign up to receive a free daily picture of Brett Clifton’s beautiful Eastern Grey Kangaroos also known as Forester Kangaroos in Tasmania. CLICK HERE to send an email to Brett brett@brettclifton.com
Elizabeth Cogley Australian Wildlife Artist
‘Proud of his Place’ Australian Lace Monitor – Mixed Media Size 63x94cm – by Elizabeth Cogley (Varanus varius) Australian Monitor Lizard “As he poses so majestically for a moment or two in his beautiful habitat, we capture a glimpse and a sense of his world. Then he vanishes again into the Australian bush.” E.Cogley This painting was a Finalist in the 2011 ‘The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize’ South Australian Museum and also received a ‘Highly Commended’ in The Wildlife Art Society of Australia ‘Wild Awards’ Exhibition 2011 CLICK HERE to see more! www.ozwildart.com
Give your Babies Every Advantage BY USING NATURAL MAGNETIC ENERGY
Does your back ache? Are you feeling stressed and tired? Introducing the wonderful Kenko Flex. For more information download the PDF here. http://www.enikken.com.au/info/magneticsite/index.html
Improve the recovery process of your injured native wildlife babies. Used by humans to reduce inflammation and swelling in their own bodies – why not give your wildlife babies every advantage. For more information click here. http://enikken2.nikken.com/enikkenau/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?CurrPage=Frontpage&NextPage=ProductList&Family=45&pid=5818651118578008
A Spikey Dragon
Linda Dennis
V
ery late one Friday afternoon I got a call from my vet Judith, “I’ve got a problem and I need your help,” she said. “I’ve got a Water Dragon that’s just been dropped off and I need a good carer who I can trust to take it through post-operative care”. Right I thought, a Water Dragon, this is a first! For the next hour I busied myself with finding as much information as I could on the care of the species. I Googled “water dragon” and found that they were huge, nearly a metre in length - oh no, I didn’t have a box or cage big enough to house such an animal! I contacted several of my wildlife colleagues who quickly sent me some information on their care and then I rang Judith back to let her know all was in hand... except for a transport box, did she have anything big enough? With an embarrassed giggle Judith told me that the lizard wasn’t nearly that big!! The surgery had been really busy and Judith hadn’t had a chance to look up her reptile guide and in her excitement the first thing that popped Spike in the intensive care box Photo by Linda Dennis Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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into her head was “Water Dragon”. After deliberation we agreed that what we had was actually a Bearded Dragon. Spike, the Bearded Dragon, in fact. Poor Spike had been hit by a car, usually a death sentence for such a small critter. His jaw was broken at the front, as was one side of his beard. After discussing the case with a reptile specialist, Judith found that Spike’s injuries were treatable and so surgery was scheduled for early the next day. I was invited to help out during surgery - another first! I fought back my nerves and was in town by 9am to help repair Spike’s broken bones. Judith was on a day off herself and so we worked, uninterrupted, for several hours. There were three in the surgical team - Judith, myself and Sam, a work experience, up and coming vet nurse with so much potential she could bust! Spike is prepared for surgery.You can see the break at the tip of the lower jaw. Photo by Linda Dennis
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Spike's jaw is wired - Photo by Linda Dennis
The enthusiasm and skill that Sam showed to her work was inspiring and did the vet clinic proud! With Judith performing the surgery and Sam her leading hand, I became the “bag lady”! My job was to breath for the lizard while he was sedated. A tube was placed down his throat and taped to his mouth and then every 30 seconds or so I squeezed the bag, ever so slightly, to give the lizard oxygen and anesthetic. At first I didn’t realise just how gently I had to squeeze the bag. On my first attempt I squeezed the bag to hard and Judith nearly died when she saw the lizard nearly blow up like a balloon. Oops! Lizards go into a hibernation during
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winter, where they very nearly shut themselves down and sleep for long periods. During surgery the anesthetic can put a lizard into a similar state. Several times we had to halt surgery to check that Spike was still alive. With Judith and I keeping our fingers firmly crossed Sam listened for the heartbeat. It was there just very, very faint. I thought that I’d feel queasy during surgery, it was even in the back of my mind that I may faint! However, I was totally and utterly enthralled! Judith did an amazing job of wiring Spike’s jaw and stabilising the break. I was in awe of the work she did. After a few hours Judith announced that she had finished and Spike was
handed over to me for his post-operative care. After such amazing work by Judith and Sam, I hoped that I could keep Spike alive and nurse him back to health. Spike’s mouth must have been pretty sore and he refused to eat on his own. I knew that I would have to force feed Spike for the first few weeks, this is a normal for an adult wild animal, but I think Spike was quite depressed with his predicament and refused to eat on his own for the nine weeks he was in care. It wasn’t until the last week or so of care that he would take food but we had to tap the food on the side of his mouth for him to even bother. For the first week Spike was kept in a warm intensive care box lined with soft material to keep the surgical site clean. He spent a lot of time sleeping under his heat lamp. In the second week Spike was moved into a larger hospital box, still with a heat lamp but a basking rock was added which he loved lying on during the day. He also loved climbing the shadecloth that lined the cage door and he rested there for several hours a day. When Spike’s jaw had healed and he showed signs that he wasn’t in pain he was moved into a habitat enclosure - a 1.2 metre aquarium lined with dirt and leaf litter. Logs and leafy branches were also placed in the enclosure so that Spike could climb and hide. A large basking rock was placed in one end with the heat lamp over the top and a bowl of water in Page 12
ROBIN WINGRAVE Natural History Artist
Spike, post op - Photo by Linda Dennis
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
hours, soaking up the sun. At one stage it starting raining and (silly me) brought him back inside so he didn’t get cold! When the rain stopped back out he went. Todd fed him one last time and we turned our backs to walk back inside. We looked back over our shoulder... Spike had disappeared... back to bush. www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com dedicated to the conservation of Australian native animals...
CLICK HERE to go to www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com
VO TE
the other end. We saw Spike lying in the bowl of water on a couple of occasion after a lengthy sunbake. The wire is Spike’s jaw was removed when the bones had healed nicely. The break in his beard was left to heal naturally as it was a very tricky area to operate on. There was a risk that his beard wouldn’t expand quite as much as it normally would, however. Spike’s bones healed well and near the end of his care he would expand his beard fully whenever we approached. After nine weeks in care he still didn’t like us much. He was ready to go. We’ve created a native bush garden at our home and it is a great place to release native animals. We chose a spot under a large log to release Spike. After showing signs of really not liking us very much Spike wasn’t too sure if he actually wanted to go. He stayed in that spot for
Did you love this story – go to page 64 to vote for your favourite story – the winner will receive a wonderful book called 'Wombat in the House' by Kevin Baker
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Sugar Glider Limited edition print (Without matting) - $70.00 Limited edition print (matted) - $90.00
A portfolio of finely detailed graphite pencil drawings or watercolour and oil paintings depicting the natural world of Australia. Available for purchase direct from the artist. winart26@gmail.com 03 6334 9261 CLICK HERE to see more! www.robinwingrave.com
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ADVERTORIAL
Devil of a project
T
o celebrate their new business partnership, Tarkine Trails and Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary are rolling up the cuffs and getting elbow deep in boffins to help out the endangered Tasmanian Devil. In an innovative, sector-spanning Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
collaboration, the two tourism-based social enterprises have joined with the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, the University of Tasmania, the Bookend Trust and the Tasmanian Land Conservancy to deliver groundbreaking research on Devil
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populations in the Tarkine wilderness area - one of the few regions which remain unaffected by the Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Tasmania’s most iconic species is under enormous threat. The infectious cancer has now accounted
Damian Byrne for around 80% of the species and up to 95% in some locations. “We have been very fortunate that Outdoor Cameras Australia have jumped on board as major sponsors,” said Greg Irons, director of Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. “Without the cameras they have provided, the project would have had much less scientific clout.” The Tarkine Devil Project currently has 20 Reconyx cameras distributed within the Tarkine rainforest and 20 along the Tarkine coast. Nearly all the cameras are capturing images of Tasmanian Devils, and many have also photographed other Tasmanian carnivores such as the spotted-tailed quoll and the introduced feral cat. The information we are getting from these cameras is invaluable, not only for monitoring the spread of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease, but for gauging the abundance and distribution of various species. Given the remoteness of the Tarkine, cameras are enabling scientists to obtain information from an area that has been a blank spot in our understanding.
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CLICK HERE to learn more! www.outdoorcameras.com.au
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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ADVERTORIAL
Professional Trapping Supplies
Morrie Walton
P
rofessional Trapping Supplies has been a leading supplier for many years, product range varies for Infra-red motion detection cameras such as Reconyx, ScoutGuard, Moultrie Spypoint used for wildlife research and more recently security to a large range of trapping and animal handling products.
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
We currently offer a very special deal with the new ScoutGuard SG560VB which has superseded the old keyhole shaped SG550V series. A similar camera but with many improvements, motion sensing to 25 metres, far improved water proof case, 32 GB capacity and now an 8 megapixel camera instead of the 5
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megapixel camera. Overall a definite improvement and at near half the price of the old SG550V series, grab a hand full at $198.00 each including GST while they last. Phone or email for suitable extras and prices. Super deal also on the Moultrie M100, while stocks last a free camo security box, SD card, batteries and freight, this camera has the ability for you to see exactly what the camera sees without detaching from its secured position and add to that 3 stage zoom makes this camera a great buy, only 60 left for this deal so call now. For those with the worry of the red glow from the front of the camera such as the SG550V series being detected and stolen, the new ZeroGlow covert camera leaves everything on the market for dead. Super bright non detectable black flash up to 25 metres, motion to 25 metres and a heap of additional features other camera manufactures wish that they could boast of. No visible flash, no red glow, no sound. Our range of traps is extensive from the original design Sherman [Elliott] mainly used for ecological
survey, bird net traps ideal for rescue of injured birds, cage traps for both rescue and eradication of ferals such as foxes. Animal handling products KetchAll poles, snake tongs and hooks and for the nest box installer and snake handlers our Mini Cam with flexible extensions, auto focus and illuminated for hard to reach places. Our holding company was established in 1972 and has been a market leader in all products we represent and manufacture. You won’t find a shopping cart on any of our four web sites, it is important to us to talk to you in person and that you are well advised to ensure you purchase the best possible product for the purpose intended. Our stock of products is extensive and large quantities are on hand at all times to cater for the largest orders. For old style personal service seldom offered by others call Morrie to discuss your requirements. Professional Trapping Supplies Unit 8, 3 Dalton Street Upper Coomera Queensland 4209 CLICK HERE for more information!
www.reconyx.com.au Page 16
MEGABAT SERIES
Hand-rearing the Megabat
Jennefer Maclean
Edited by Andrea Devos Photos by Ashleigh Johnson unless marked
T
he Mega Bat is known as Flying Foxes or the Fruit Bat. Australia has over 90 species – but none are to be found in Tasmania. In North Queensland there is three of Australia’s four fruit bat species - Pteropus conspicillatus (Spectacled flying fox), alecto (Black Spectacled flying fox pup
flying fox) and scapulatus (Little Red flying fox). The first two species are born around October/November each year at about 60-100g (adult size 7001000g), while the Little Reds are born around May at about 45g (adult size 300-400g). Young flying foxes may be Little Red flying fox
Black flying fox
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Rufus is a black flying fox – you can see how large their feet are and why handlers get scratches from the bats when they hold onto the hand.
orphaned in a number of different ways - the mother has either died (eg tick paralysis, barbed wire, electric shock on powerlines, other trauma), rejected the baby (eg birth abnormalities) or for unknown reasons. In Australia carers need to be vaccinated for Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). The risk is extremely low, but orphans have come into care in some parts of Australia with this rabies-like disease. It is important to remember that you pose a risk to the orphan if you are un-vaccinated - the Health Departments in Australia will want to euthanase the bat for testing if you are bitten or scratched. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Step One: Assess the orphan and ensure it is warm. Step Two: Check the baby for fractures, injuries. Step Three: Check for dehydration. Pinch up some skin between the shoulder blades of the orphan. When released, the skin should return to a normal position very quickly. It will return slowly if the orphan is dehydrated. The eyes may also look sunken, though this will also happen if the bat has lost a lot of weight. If dehydrated you will need to replace fluids quickly. Oral fluids are enough for mild dehydration, but fluids by injection may be required for more serious cases – intraperitoneal (the injection of a substance into the body cavity) is best, but subcutaneous (just beneath the skin) administration
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is often adequate. Rehydration may need to occur over several days. Do not offer milk until bat is adequately rehydrated. If pup has come off a live mum, the chances of dehydration are a lot less than if she’s come of a dead mum or found alone. Step Four: Search for fly eggs and maggots. These can be removed manually with a comb, toothbrush or small paintbrush. They can also be washed off under a tap. Dry the wings thoroughly afterwards, especially on the inside along the body. Look out also for mites - it is best to get rid of them. We use a drop of Revolution. Keep bub separate from others and change bedding frequently until mites are gone. Step Five: Weigh orphan and measure forearm - to help determine the age, and to have a baseline to know if the orphan is thriving. Step Six: Is it possible to re-unite pup with its Mother? Sometimes a baby may have become separated from its mother during a predator attack for example. Can the baby be hung up in a tree if the mother is calling - either immediately or the following early evening. An orphan’s care should be based as closely as possible to its experience in the wild. For the first 5 weeks or so, flying fox young are worn on their mother’s
A Spectacled flying fox bub enjoying some sun.
belly all the time, the mouth firmly on the nipple most of the time. Mum is opening her wing to let baby have some sun and toileting bub regularly. From about 4-5 weeks, the young are too heavy to be carried out on the nightly foraging for food. The young are left in the day roost trees of the camp where they begin to become quite active and socialise with each other. Eventually by about 10 weeks they are flapping and climbing and beginning to take short flights. Flying Foxes are very intelligent and affectionate mammals. Like Page 18
human babies, they need a routine involving good care and nutrition. To prepare them for release back to the wild, they need to reach milestones of development that closely mimic their wild peers. If you have no experience caring for young flying foxes and have not been immunised you will need to find a carer to take over – Tolga Bat Hospital have a great Contact List. In Australia you will need a wildlife care permit and Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) vaccination. To give the bat the best chance of surviving, and from about 5 weeks of age it will need other young bats with which to socialise. To care for an orphan you will need: MegaBats such as the Flying Fox are not Microbats and cannot be fed the same formula as below (see article on Microbats) MILK FOR FLYING FOXES Please note that many flying fox carers in Australia are now using full cream cows’ milk (fresh or powdered) with added glucose. Add 1 teaspoon of glucodin to 200ml of full cream milk (fresh or powdered). Others are still using human infant formula, preferably for pups 6 months and over. Mix according to instructions on can. Only mix enough milk for 24 hours and keep in the fridge. Heat enough milk for each feed Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
and test warmth of milk on the back of your wrist. Use a 21 gauge hot needle to make a hole in the end of the teat. Before putting the teat on the bottle, fill the teat with water - it should drip through the hole slowly, rather than run in a stream. When pups are very young, or poor feeders, we syringe the milk through the teat, rather than put the teat on a bottle. Make sure the syringe plunges smoothly. A preference of wildlife carers are for 10ml syringes, or 20ml glass bottles. The hole for a bottle teat can be a little bigger. You may need to let air into the teat if it collapses while feeding ie release the teat around the neck of the bottle. Sit quietly with pup and position on its side with head lower than body. Wrap the baby for feeding continue until the pup feels secure. Pups remain wrapped until toileting after the feed, then put on a sock mother in the box. (A sock mother is a sock stuffed with polyester fill and sewn at one end so to resemble the orphan’s mother). Never allow the baby to blow milk out its nose - check the hole in the teat is not too big. The hole in the teat will get bigger with use, change teat as often as necessary. Please contact an experienced carer if pup has trouble feeding, as a young orphan can readily contract aspiration pneumonia. An
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orphan with a cleft palate cannot feed without milk going “up its nose” - if this is suspected, check the roof of the mouth for a deep gutter defect, or occasionally a pinhole defect just behind the top teeth. This problem appears to be rare, though there have been occasional years when large numbers of Spectacled flying fox pups have been affected. WATER Offer the small pups water in hot weather - they rarely take much. You can add a fluid replacement solution like Vytrate, it is very popular. A pup that has come in dehydrated will be given water an hour or so before a feed for a few days. Once pups are on the self-feeders, there is always fresh and slightly salted water on hand for them. Like the adults in care, the pups usually prefer salt water to fresh. Put 1 teaspoon of seasalt (ground up) to 1 litre of water. By the time orphans are feeding about 10ml per feed, many have learned to demand feed from selffeeders (sold in pet shops as water bottles, animals lick from a tube that contains 2 ball bearings). Most pups are independently hanging and using self-feeders by the time they weigh 200g, or at about 7 weeks of age. This is also usually the age they go to the outside cage. The orphan’s stomach should be
rounded but not obese. The amount taken each feed should increase by about 4-5ml per day per week (ie increase of about 1 ml per feed). Be guided by its weight / growth gains. See the weight / growth estimates at different ages. If you don’t have a teat, young flying foxes will readily lick milk from a syringe, eye dropper or small dish. Sucking is an instinctive behaviour for this breast-fed mammal, and probably as in humans, an important part of oro-motor development. We believe they need the opportunity to use a teat and in many cases a dummy (just a short teat without a hole). Individual bats, like some humans, settle very quickly with a dummy and feel insecure without it. Young bats spend a Baby spectacled with dummy Photo by Sue Samphier TBH
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Tube Nosed Fruit Bat Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
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lot of time on their mother suckling. They can make do with sucking on cloth, but must be watched for sucking on other orphans - usually the ear or penis! This can do a lot of damage. HOUSING A newborn flying fox orphan will need a heating pad, a ‘sock mother’, some towels and a cardboard box, basket or cage. A sock mother is a sock stuffed with polyester fill and stitched across at about anklebone level. It hangs from the edge of box (we use a large nappy pin or clamp) so that some of the sock lies on the bottom of the box. Pup can choose to hang or lie cuddling up to this artificial mother. Do not wrap pups between feeds. The set-up is very simple but can take a while to get everything right. An electric heating pad 30x40cm layered with towels so that the pup stays warm but not overheated. The heating pad is placed down the sides/bottom of the box in a U-shape. Small clamps are used to keep the towels secure over the edge of the box. Pups will be content to be in a box cuddling up to the sock mother and perhaps with a dummy. Add a top sheet (also clamped) so it can be changed whenever soiled. The towel layers can often remain in situ for a week or more. This photo looking down into the box gives you a general idea. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
However a box is not a very visually stimulating environment and the pup will be ready to be moved into a cage set-up fairly quickly. When you notice the pups peeping over the edge of the box then they are ready to be moved out. You can put a piece of rigid wire mesh over the box for pups to move on - the depth of the box is critical so their heads need to clear the bottom of the box. Tolga Bat Hospital have a cage structure that hangs from a towel rail above a bathtub. It makes cleaning very easy as well as providing the pups with lots of space to move. It has compartments that allow babies to progress from their boxes/baskets by about 100g. Here they can still choose to lie down - but gradually they spend more time hanging. They need a fairly sophisticated structure as they have 100-200 orphans most years. Tolga Bat Hospital suggest that
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for the Little Red flying fox orphans, use a heater on in the room once the pups are on the frame. Any pups that come in just before winter and the nights are getting cooler then you can put a heater on in the room while the pups are on the frame. The wild orphan is left alone in
As Bionic grew older and became more curious he was moved from his basket into a porta cot.
the trees at night from about 130g, so there is no real need for heat in a healthy pup in its natural geographical area. Inside a house is much warmer than in the canopy of the colony. As they get older the pups need climbing/hanging/ flapping space and eventually flying space. Even at 1 week of age some orphans will want to flap their wings, and turn upside down to toilet. Carers who do not have the necessary facilities for a bat learning to fly will need to pass them on to a creche facility. In Australia, the bat should have no opportunity to accidentally bite or Page 21
scratch anyone unvaccinated for ABLV. If someone is bitten or scratched, the Health authorities will want to kill the bat to be tested for ABL. Please be responsible as the life of this young orphan is in your hands. Orphans should go outside as soon as possible after about 6 -8 weeks of age or 200g. Initially hang towels in the cage so that it doesn’t feel too open for them - they can feel insecure otherwise and suck onto other orphans. We slowly take down the towels as they become used to being outside. In the wild, pups of this age are being left alone in the trees at night. Life is far more stimulating outside with its rich
environment of night sounds and smells etc. BAT COMPANY Ideally you will need to find other young bats with which your bat can socialise and be prepared for return to the wild. This becomes important from about 6 weeks of age. This can be difficult if few orphans come into care but every attempt ought to be made to either move your bat onto another carer or you take on another bat. For some species, Tolga Bat Hospital regularly liase with carers hundreds of kilometres away to ensure this happens.
Baby Simon with his first mango. Photo credit Pru Harvey
FRUIT Young flying foxes love fruit from a very early age. In the wild their first taste or fruit would be licking fruit juices from around their mother’s mouth. However until they can fly independently they have little opportunity to get fruit. This is perhaps the only area in which orphans have the opportunity to develop a lot earlier than their wild counterparts. It is important to maintain the milk component of their diet at the same time. Pups in the wild are breastfed for up to 6 months. Hang fruit on hooks, and only cut it if its too soft to hang. As pups begin to eat fruit they will often expel worms (Toxacara pteropis). Rarely will these commonly occurring worms be a problem. The worms come through the mother’s milk. A pup in poor condition with no appetite or energy can be wormed with one dose of roundworm medicine for kittens.
be hung on clothes airers that allow them to climb into or out of the sun. They can also be hung in outsidecages for periods of time before they are outside full time. HANDLING AND BONDING Newborn flying foxes have very sharp claws. This helps them to stay securely on Mum as she is flying. However this means carers are very readily covered in fine scratches, particularly on the backs of their hands. The scratches very rarely draw blood but are difficult to avoid while learning to handle young bats. As the Greyheaded flying fox
SUNSHINE Pups need increasing access to sunshine. Initially have them hanging off your shirt and sit in light sun for 10 minutes or so a few times a day. Watch the very young pup as they cannot thermo-regulate. When a few weeks old, pups can Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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pups get used to being handled confidently though, they seem to scratch less. Young bats feel secure when their feet are holding on or their mouths are sucking on, or both. Many will have a false sense of security if it is only their mouth hanging on. Always handle by their feet. You should wear your orphan wear a long t-shirt and pin up the front edge. Babies love to rest their head in this ‘pouch’ as they do in their mother’s wing. As they get older, they are happy to just hang off the t- shirt. Don’t forget that pups need to be socialised with other pups, but certain individuals seem to need this ‘mothering’.
GROOMING Wash the pup if necessary but only with cloth and water. Good clean housing and regular toileting greatly lessens the need for washing. Pups will begin cleaning themselves from a very young age if given the chance to be free of wraps. Take particular care that the pup remains dry inside the wing where the wing joins the body. Remain vigilant for any signs of fungal infection in the wings, but good housing and toileting will prevent this. Expect to find small batflies - they look a little like spiders with 6 legs they do not need to be removed. Be alert for fly eggs or ticks as these must Baby inverting
be removed. The following information regarding weights and measures of orphans at different ages refers to the 3 larger species of Australian flying foxes (Black, Spectacled and Greyhead). THE VERY SMALL PUP Weight 60-90g, FAL (forearm length) 60-70mm, age premature to 1 week House these babies in a box with a heating pad as they will want to sleep all of the time. They cannot maintain their own body temperature. In the wild these babies are on their mothers full-time.
Feeds need to be 2-3 hourly (5 feeds a day) and 1-3ml per feed. Feed these very young orphans through a teat with a 3ml syringe. Like young human babies, these orphans need to be kept in a relatively quiet environment with little disturbance between feeds. Expect a weight gain of about 15g and FAL increase of about 10mm per week. THE SMALL PUP Weight 90-120g, FAL 70-85mm, age 1-4 weeks. These babies will want to sleep most of the time, but will be increasingly active looking around and even flapping in short bursts.
Baby learning to flap
TOILETING Pups need to be toileted regularly to keep them clean. Position the baby vertically to toilet, the same position they will use when older, and stimulate just above the genital area over the bladder. The flying fox mother always licks her baby’s genitals for toileting. Stimulate toileting before feeding the pup, some 5 minutes or so after feeding as well as several times between feeding. You will learn what times are the most productive. Young pups will barely wake up when toileted.
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Juvenile Spectacled Flying Fox inverting to do toileting - enjoys a look around too. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
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House them on an over-bath cage. Can feed with bottle and teat or continue with syringe. Feeds 3-4 hourly (5 feeds per day) and 3-8ml per feed. THE MEDIUM PUP Weight 110-150g, FAL 75100mm, age 2-5 weeks Feed these babies with bottle and teat unless they are have feeding problems. They will take 5-10ml per feed with 5 feeds per day. Expect a weight gain of 8-20g and FAL increase of 7-10 mm per week. THE LARGE PUP Weight 150-200g, FAL 90100mm, age 4-6 weeks At this age the pup will become confident on a self-feeder and spend most of its time hanging. This is the age when mum will leave bub behind in the colony at night. Also introduce a self-feeder with water. THE FLAPPER Weight 150-250g, FAL 100120mm, age 5-9 weeks You need to have at least 2 orphans now. They will start to do a lot of flapping so ensure there is enough room for this. They will be cleaning themselves and inverting for toileting. Fruit can be introduced at this stage. Some will still need help to keep clean. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
THE FLYER Weight 250350g, FAL 120140mm, age 9-12 weeks Expect FAL to increase about 2-4mm per week. In the wild this pup is making short flights within the colony and doing a lot of climbing. No ceiling fans, breakables etc. This is the time to bring to the creching cage. Fruit is now an established part of their diet but it is important to continue with milk until release. Banana smoothie made on 100% full cream cows’ milk (plus honey) is easy if they do not want to drink straight milk. Some people prefer to sprinkle the milk powder or Wombaroo high protein formula on top of chopped fruit. THE RELEASED JUVENILE 350gms+ In the wild they are taking flights of increasing distances out of the colony from early January. Research in Sydney with the Grey-headed flying foxes indicates the importance of releasing the orphans into the colony before mating season begins in March. Start taking them out to the release cage at the colony from early January.
CLICK HERE to go to www.tolgabathospital.org
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Banana smoothie anyone?
Donated
When I contacted Jenny (Jennefer Maclean) from the Tolga Bat Hospital – she was busy mixing banana smoothie for the 350 orphans (mainly flying foxes) at their release site. I asked her why banana smoothie and what is the recipe? This is her reply: We make banana smoothie for several reasons – 1. We can get large quantities of bananas for free. We get a trailer load a week, about 300kgs+ 2. We don't cut up fruit, we hang it. Most bat carers cut it up and put high protein powder on top. Making smoothie is our way of delivering the high protein (and milk powders). 3. The bats love it. 4. We can have some volunteers for a day making large amounts of smoothie, put it in the freezer as a concentrate, and then just pull out a container each day. 5. We are given quantities of out-ofdate infant formula. making smoothie is the best way to use it. So the recipe varies a bit according to what we have, but basically
1.
2. 3. 4.
Choose a milk powder from whatever is available (full cream cows milk, infant formula). If the infant formula is a strange one (eg thickened, anti-allergy) ... only let it constitute half the amount and the rest full cream cow’s milk. Wombaroo high protein. Bananas. Anything else you believe is a nutrient eg honey, eggs.
To make a 5 litre bucket Fill just over half the bucket with cut up banana, add 2 cups milk powders, 1 cup Wombaroo. Add water to cover bananas and whizz. Once mixed, fill to top with more water and whizz again. We have a commercial blender so don't need to cut the bananas and make a concentrate without any water. We add the water on the day we use it. Page 25
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MEGABAT SERIES
The orphans of Tolga Bat Hospital
Jennefer Maclean
W
e get up to 300 pups through the hospital each tick season, many of them orphans. We foster out as many orphans as possible but are usually left with over 100 pups at the hospital itself. The fostered pups return to us around New Year for creching and release. We are able to reunite some with their mothers. This is usually an arduous process. By the time the mother has recovered from tick paralysis, her milk has usually dried up. With the pup on her, it will usually take about 4 days for her to begin lactating again. During this time we need to remove the pup for regular feeds, although some mothers will let you feed the pup while still on them. Once the milk supply is re-established, the pup still needs to be removed daily for weighing, to check that there is enough milk. Even when the weight gain looks good, it is still wise to continue weighing the pup every week. Sometimes the weight gain is because the pup has begun eating the adult food, not because of the mother’s milk supply. We always release the mothers with pups through the release cage with the other pups. If the mother can’t
All photos by Ashleigh Johnson Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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adjust back to the wild with the pup, both the pup and the mother know they can return to the cage for support feeding. Pup cannot feed normally if mum is unwell. Mum usually falls to the ground with baby still attached, although the older pup, 8 weeks and over, is often separated. These pups may remain up/climb back up in the canopy and ladder/pole rescues become necessary, though not always possible. It is very sad to hear them crying out for their mother, who is by now dead from tick paralysis or in the hospital. Many of them are hoarse or lose their voices temporarily, and many of the older pups die up in the canopy. Pup is often rescued with maggots or fly eggs and these must be removed. It is important to re-check these babies for more eggs/maggots over the next few days. A mild pyrethrin spray and antibiotics is sometimes necessary. Pup is often dehydrated and needs fluid replacement. This can usually be achieved orally but sometimes it is necessary to inject fluids into the peritoneum (abdomen) or subcutaneously (just beneath the skin). Pup is weighed and the forearm measured. Pup is fed human infant formula (for infants over 6 months) or full cream cow’s milk (with added glucodin) 2-4 hourly depending on age and condition. A bottle and teat is used. If Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Baby bats eating fruit
pup is young or a poor feeder we use a syringe to drip the milk into the teat. Fruit is introduced at about 8 weeks but milk is still the mainstay. In the wild, they would have little access to fruit until they can fly. Begin with softer fruits like papaw, watermelon, banana and rockmelon. By now our pups are drinking milk from selffeeders and are in the outside cage.
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Whole apples are hung on S-hooks, initially with wedges cut out so they can bite into it more easily. This encourages work / play for their food. Some people introduce cooked fruit but we don’t find this necessary. It is very important that the pups have lots of opportunities for climbing and flapping. In early January, about 10 bats at a
time are taken to the release cage. This is a large dog crate winched up into the canopy. Orphans are kept inside the cage for 3 days. The cage is winched down each day to feed them. After 3 days these bats are put outside and another 10 bats are put inside. This process is repeated as many times as necessary to bring all the orphans out to the colony. We believe the presence Page 28
Volunteers only are caring for over 400 bats at Tolga Bat Hospital. This is the verandah where juveniles can get some afternoon sun. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
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Jennefer Maclean
of the orphans inside the cage encourages the outside orphans to return - as well as the presence of food. The release cage is in a section of the colony used by many mothers with babies. Our orphans can fly out with their wild peers, learning with them about bush tucker and gaining strength and endurance in flight. It is vital they integrate into the social structure of the colony. Daily feeding is continued for at least a month after the last orphans are put outside. The food is then reduced. They are fed less frequently as well as a
lesser amount. Often in June we will still go out once a week and have 30 or so bats come down to the cage when it is winched back up. The success of the release is evident by the numbers of orphans from previous years returning to the cage.
CLICK HERE to go to www.tolgabathospital.org
Release cage at Tolga Bat Hospital Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Annie
Stella Reid
A
ll creatures love to play, Annie and her Joey Guim are no exception. Annie was 800 g when she was rescued. Today I can only guess her weight. She loves to roam the bush and show her Joey the new world. Sometimes I walk with them, they move quietly and gently through the Australian Bush. I have moments when I think I have lost them, the bush is so thick, but she always finds me. She is free but has not forgotten me. My love for her is great, as her love is for me. Only friends wander the bush together, I know she will show me the way home when I think I am well and truly lost. This is “living with” “caring for” and “loving” Kangaroos.
CLICK HERE
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to contact Stella Reid www.wildhavenstandrews.com.au stellareid@bigpond.com
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All photos are of Annie with her joey Guim. Photos by Stella Reid Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Orphaned flying fox rescue D
uring our years of living in the tropics, my wife and I had the great privilege of seeing over thirty thousand flying foxes fly over our house every evening. The colony was only two kilometres down the road from us. As a wildlife artist it is a memory I will always cherish. In my fifteen years of living in the area I saw how the urban sprawl started to squeeze this colony from either side of its ten acre existence. I also saw and became actively involved in the rescue of tick affected bats. In recent years, at around November time, the fruit bat population of North Queensland is now dramatically affected by the Paralysis Tick. Unfortunately this also coincides with the birthing time of the babies. Many of the babies are orphaned and left to die a long slow death from hunger and dehydration. I became aware of this while trying to get footage of the bats for an up and coming tour in the US. I noticed this particular female with a baby up in the canopy. Her movements were sluggish and uncoordinated compared to the others in the colony. On my return the next
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Robin Wingrave
morning the mother was on the forest floor below the same tree, and it appeared that she was suffering the effects of the Paralysis Tick. Her baby was still attached to her, so I took them both to a local carer as quickly as possible. Unfortunately the mother did not survive, but the baby was hand raised successfully and released later that year. I suddenly realised how many babies were in the canopy alone and calling for their mothers. Walking through the colony I could hear bird like twitters above the rest of the colony’s usual bickering. To my dismay, I now realised these were the orphaned babies. This was to be the start of five years in bat rescue for both myself and my wife. We became bat paramedics, climbing to great heights up into the canopy to retrieve the orphaned babies. We would then work together to rehydrate them and settle them before passing them on to full time carers. Our orphaned baby routine began by wrapping them up (old bed sheets or t-shirt material is good). This simulates the mother’s wings being wrapped around them which soothes and calms them down. Trying to get the “nappy” Page 36
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We sold our house and moved up to the Atherton Tablelands for a year or so before we came to Tasmania. In that short time a sports field was built opposite the college. I used to drive past and every so often I would stop at the colony. Sadly, right up until we left I noticed hardly any bats in the forest. I think it finally became too noisy for the bats to stand being there. I’m thinking they had to find another scrap of defragmented forest to accommodate the colony… how ironic is that! Few people in the North truly know how important flying foxes are to the wellbeing of our heritage listed rainforest. Aside from the Cassowary they are the number one seed dispersers and pollinators of rainforest trees. It is now considered that bats, rather than birds or insects, are the prime pollinators of a number of important timbers. It is also estimated that 70 percent of fruit sold in South East Asian markets is bat pollinated. Flying foxes
have been known to travel up to 50 kilometres in one evening of feeding making them a very effective cross pollinator. Megabats in general are now considered a “keystone” or “linch pin” species on which so many other species depend for their survival. The loss of the Megabats could trigger a cascade of linked extinctions. Unfortunately numbers in the North are declining each year due to loss of habitat, paralysis tick, power line strike and electrocution by fruit growers. The work my wife and I did seemed so insignificant based on this information, however I do have hope. A dedicated friend of mine, Jenny Maclean runs the Tolga Bat Hospital up on the Atherton Tablelands. She, with the help of some amazing volunteers saves and rehabilitates over 200 orphans each year. So with people like her and a band of others I sincerely hope to see “Speckys” the next time I visit North Queensland.
CLICK HERE Robin Wingrave is a History Wildlife Artist. CLICK HERE to visit his website www.robinwingrave.com
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(using tissues) around the right bits of the orphan can be like trying to wrestle with an octopus!! It was definitely a two person job. Once the baby bat is wrapped and settled we would begin the rehydration process using water mixed with sugar and tiny amount of salt or glucose and water. Unfortunately I cannot remember the mixture amounts. We would try to get 5-10mls into them initially, and then after one or two more water bottle feeds we would go onto half milk/half water, and then onto full “milk” (formula). It was by no means an exact science but it worked and the orphans responded quickly. I had some fun experiences getting the orphans. There was a college one side of the colony and a few houses whose yards backed straight onto the forest on the other side. I can remember trying to keep very still five metres up a tree as a lady in the yard below brought in her washing. I remained as invisible as possible while rescuing the orphans because not every North Queenslander is happy about people saving fruit bats (especially fruit growers for obvious reasons). So I would go to the forest on day break, save who I could, and get out again. This was five or six years ago when fewer people were aware of the plight of the Spectacled Flying Fox. To my knowledge I was the only person searching for orphans in that colony.
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Slick the Comorant O Have you seen the great book ‘Rescued!’ Here is one of 43 stories in this book – purchase a book today for only $19.95 and help support wildlife carers and their babies today! Order your copy by emailing us here at the Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine – andrea@taswildliferescue.com.au
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ver the years through Kimberley Wildlife Rescue in Kununurra, we have treated every size and shape of bird imaginable. We have seen finches and frogmouths, falcons and kites, parrots galore and many, many more, but one of my favourite feathered patients was Slick… Slick was a Little Black Cormorant who came to us from the Argyle Diamond mine, along with one of his mates. The Argyle mine is about 200kms south of Kununurra, and they send us a variety of creatures that have been rescued out there. Slick and his mate had unfortunately ended up in a huge waste pit of oil, and they were both totally covered in stinking black sump type oil, from the tips of their beaks to the ends of their webbed feet. We have seen a number of birds at the vet centre that have come to us because they have ended up covered in oil, but not many of them have managed to survive. The problem is that not only are these birds’ feathers covered in oil, but they have also swallowed a lot of oil whilst flapping around in it, or when they try and clean themselves and preen their suits. These oil products are very toxic and quickly poison our little feathered friends. When we get these oiled birds in we treat them for their shock and poisoning
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using homeopathic remedies, rehydrate them and gently wash them with a mild detergent and warm water. We get them as clean as we can without stressing them too much, and then we dry them off. To try and help soak up some of the oil that they have swallowed, we put a tube down their beak and into their belly, and give them liquids that coat the gut and absorb some of the toxins in the oil. We treated Slick and his mate with these absorbents, and gave them a liquid glucose and electrolyte solution to give them some energy. We put both of them in a warm, dark, quiet cage together and gave them a bath to swim in, in case they wanted to do some more washing. Then we just had to wait. One of the birds was definitely weaker than the other, but all we could do was hope for the best. Sadly, only Slick made it through the night, but all things considered we thought that was pretty exciting. He was bright and feisty and definitely ready for a feed, and he was jumping up and down squawking in his cage like a mad thing. From his size and behaviour we figured that he was probably a juvenile, and that he and his mate had maybe ended up in the oil on one of their early flights. Slick proceeded to devour all the fish we had at the clinic, and then we were off to the shops for more bait and frozen fish. We gave him another
Dr Sarah Brett shampoo and a tub, and he stayed lively and bright and constantly pecked at all of us. Not in a nasty way though, he was just always looking for something else to eat! There was DEFINITELY nothing wrong with his appetite, and he managed to eat at least 3 times a day, whilst squeaking and chattered non-stop. My partner Trevor was feeding all of the wildlife at the vets at that time, and even though he is a crusty old cowboy, he really fell in love with Slick. He made him a lovely house in one of our aviaries outside, and gave him a big bath to swim in. Even though Slick had a little bit of a limpy foot, it didn’t slow him down too much, and every time Trevor went out to feed him he would dash out of the door as soon as it was open and would jump up and down at Trevor’s feet. Slick could eat the most incredible amount of fish in one sitting for such a small bird, and even though his neck would be bulging with the fish he had gorged he would be hopping up and down on the spot begging for more. We fed him fish, meat, and whole mice (so that he got some calcium for his bones) and he was always looking for something else. We even recruited one of our clients Francis, who was a mad keen fisherman, to help, and he bought him bait fish and fresh fillets to feed to our Page 38
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all alone. Trevor knew that I was having trouble leaving Slick, but as it got darker, we knew we had to go. We finally headed back up to the car but it was torturing me thinking about leaving him down there on the rocks. I didn’t have to say anything to Trevor, but as I stood there crying at the car like a big girl, he headed all the way back down to the water and had a big yarn with Slick. He picked him up, threw him up into the air, and we both watched him fly all the way down across the spillway and up into a big tall tree on the other side of the bank. NOW I was happy. As we headed off back to town I blessed Slick and prayed that he would have a long, safe and happy life. Who can really know what happens to our rehabilitated friends that we release, but we did get a couple of reports of people up on the Lake getting a visit from a particularly friendly cormorant, so I bet it was Slick seeing if there was a free feed on offer. Well I truly hope so anyway. Kimberley Wildlife Rescue Inc. PO Box 1442 KUNUNURRA WA 6743 Ph/Fax: 08) 9169 1229 Mobile: 0438 015 881 Email: kimberleywildlife@westnet.com.au
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ever hungry patient. After a few weeks it was evident that Slick was fine, and even though he still had a slight limp, we figured it was time to release him. Besides, he was eating us out of house and clinic! We decided that we would release him up at Lake Argyle, so we put him in a crate and headed off to one of our favourite spots up at the Lake, the Spillway, which is the overflow channel for Lake Argyle. Slick sat up like a little penguin whilst we drove all the way up to the Lake, and then Trevor and I set off over the rocks and headed down to the water. It is always a hard moment when you release your charges back to the wild, but it is an incredibly exciting one too. We took Slick out of his crate and put him on the rocks, and he sat there with us as if he was waiting for the picnic to start! We all sat there together for a while until Trevor decided to give Slick a bit of encouragement, and picked him up and tossed him into the water. Well wasn’t that a moment. Slick ducked and dived and bobbed and washed, but had absolutely no intention of going anywhere. Trevor dived into the water with him and Slick swam all around him with great glee as if he had been waiting for his mate to join him. We spent the rest of that incredible afternoon with Slick. As it got later and later it was clear that Slick wasn’t planning to leave and we had to decide what to do. Even though deep down you know that they are wild creatures that know how to survive, it is so terribly hard to leave such a little thing out there
Nesting Boxes for Birds & Mammals The La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary has been researching and building nesting boxes for over 15 years. Our 12 different designs cater for many species including Parrots, Ducks, Kookaburras, Pardalotes and Sugar Gliders. Made from environmentally responsible materials, our boxes have been expertly designed for specific animals, discouraging pests like Starlings, Indian Mynahs and Feral Bees. All our boxes are easy to install. To see the full range contact us for a brochure or visit our web site. Contact: The La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary La Trobe University - Melbourne Campus Ph : (03) 9479 1206 nestboxes@latrobe.edu.au www.latrobe.edu.au/wildlife
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Old man possum
Brenda Marmion
I
was called out for an emergency rescue of a brushtail possum trying to crawl into a cemetery! It was near a busy highway and I assumed he had been hit by a car. His hind legs were paralysed. However on vet inspection his spine appeared undamaged and he did have deep pressure response, so my lovely vet Adam asked if I wanted to give him a go. Yes of course. Arriving home and transferring him to his hospital cage, instead of donning my welders’ gloves I put on a pair of leather gardening gloves. Normally I lift a brushtail by the base of the tail, safest way, but because of his back injuries I lifted him under the arms, he panicked and bit and chewed, and chewed right through the gloves, my index finger almost to the bone. My friend came running when she heard me, ummm, more of a moan than a scream lol. I have been giving OMP physio, OMP (Osteopathic Manual Practice) uses precise manipulative and Brushtail Possum Photo by Brenda Marmion
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TOP LEFT: Being given a chance at life. Photo by Brenda Marmion BOTTOM LEFT: Enjoying his tucker – well on the way to mending. Photo by Brenda Marmion
palpatory techniques to treat the restrictions in the body thereby restoring mobility to different bodily systems, (musculo-skeletal, circulatory, digestive, pulmonary and nervous systems) thus improving the regulation and interactions of these systems massage and stretching exercises daily, the first time I saw a twitch of his hind leg I was ecstatic. He can now groom with his hind legs, clench with his hind feet, sit up and stand. His left leg is the worst affected but with time and more physio I believe he can be successfully released. He trusts me completely now and I am so very fond of him. It may take a few more months but I am sure this will be a happy ending.
CLICK HERE
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To contact Brenda Marmion Crystal Ocean Wildlife Shelter crystal_ocean2003@yahoo.com.au
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Winner! Congratulations to the winner of the Readers’ Choice Story Terri Eather won with her great story and pics “Cecilia's Story” in Issue 2. Your prize is the enchanting book 'Puggles' by Catriona Hoy.
Australian Bird and Wildlife Art by Janet Flinn Wildlife Artist, Janet Flinn, paints the colour and character of the Australian birds that visit her garden and nearby bushland in Glen Waverley, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The paintings feature Kookaburras, Parrots, Cockatoos, Fairy-wrens, Robins, Raptors and Owls. Studio visits for viewing paintings are welcome by appointment. Art work may also be purchased online or commissioned. Email jpflinn@bigpond.com Phone 03 9560 5003
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Oakview Nature Refuge Teats I too am a wildlife carer and use the money raised from the sale of the teats to help to purchase milk supplements etc for my own babies in care. Email Anne-Marie Dineen anmacropod@bigpond.com
Bionic’s story
Jess Janson
B
ionic was the first Spectacled Flying Fox baby to come into care during the 2011 baby season. I was walking with another bat carer through the colony, just seeing how the colony was going. There were no babies on the ground so we decided to go and get a coffee. We were halfway across the road when I turned around and said ‘wait that is a baby’. So back we ran, listening for the distinct cry of a baby in trouble. Through the garden and out the other side, there was a little baby clinging to a vine, crying with all his might Bionic weighed 88grams when he came into care, putting him at approximately 11 days old. For the first 48 hours Bionic was on round the clock two-three hourly feeds. By day three, Bionic had settled in nicely and was able to be dropped back to four hourly feeds. For the next two weeks Bionic drank his bottle and slept. As long as his belly was full and he had his dummy he was happy and content. A quick assessment showed that he had no injuries but was quite dehydrated and needed fluids ASAP.
All photos by Jess Janson Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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As long as his belly was full and he had his dummy he was happy and content.
As more babies started coming into care so Bionic had to learn to share his mummy
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The wonderful thing I find about caring for flying-foxes is how well they adjust to change. The older the baby the longer it takes but I find as long as you are willing to put the time in, within days that baby flying-fox will know you as its mother and start calling out for you.
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Bionic and friends learning how to be big bats before going to pre-release at Tolga Bat Hospital. The Cairns babies pre-release at Tolga Bat Hospital.
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As Bionic grew older and became more curious he was moved from his basket into a porta cot with a collapsed clothes airer on top. This gave Bionic room to practice his flapping and interact with other baby flying-foxes. By 6 weeks old Bionic was learning how to drink from a dripper bottle and starting to eat steamed apple. Many flying-fox carers will keep their baby flying-foxes on bottles until 10-12 weeks of age. In 2011 Cairns carers had over 150 orphans come into care, leaving us no choice but to transition them onto dripper bottles at an earlier age. Once learning how to self-feed the flying-foxes advance quite quickly and are soon ready to go be creched in an outdoor aviary before being taken out to the release cage. The older they get the more adventurous they become and sadly the time comes when it is time to send them to the outdoor avairy to learn how to become big bats.
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The author Jess Janson unselfishly volunteers her time at the Tolga Bat Hospital, Atherton, QLD CLICK HERE to see what they do www.tolgabathospital.org
Bionic grew up to be a big healthy boy weighing 400g by the time he went to the Tolga Bat Hospital. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Princess Possum
Terri Eather
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pproximately 11 years ago*, I received a phone call from an elderly couple in our neighbourhood. They had a sick possum on the floor in their garage. Upon arriving a found a very sick and anaemic female Brushtail Possum approx one year old. I immediately picked her up, put her in a rescue carrier and headed home. I then phoned Dr Jon (who at this stage was working at Dreamworld, Coomera, Australia). After our discussion I bundled two of my little boy Brushtail Possums, Dave and Lucky (approximately seven months old) into a rescue carrier. After seat belting both carriers in the car I headed the 28 kilometres down to Dreamworld and Dr Jon. After Dr Jon looked at the little girl and did a PCV (Packed Cell Volume - a measure of the proportion of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells), our worst suspicion was confirmed. She had eaten rat bait. But since the neighbours had found her so quickly, we had a good chance of being able to save her young life. Sick brushtail possum named Princess. Photo by Terri Eather Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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ADVERTISEMENT
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife Rescue Training Sessions We have some more training sessions scheduled so please read the info below! If you haven’t done so already please book in for one of the sessions so you can start actively getting involved in the program. The training sessions are run so that our FOC members learn everything to do with wildlife rescue and transportation and how to make a rescue kit. You MUST attend one training session before you can help out with animal rescues. This is for your own safety and the safety of the animals that you are rescuing. We need as many of you trained as possible to get the program working even more effectively so please try hard to find a session that suits you and book in. Every month we have training sessions. (Please note – training sessions are all the same so you are only required to attend one.)
Brushtail Possums Dave and Lucky - "Blood Donors" Photo by Terri Eather
Contact bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary for next training sessions - phone: 03 6268 1184.
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
vets) would not even consider giving a blood transfusion for wildlife. But it can be VERY sucessful. (AZWH and RSPCA Wacol, Queensland have a good supply of blood/plasma of most species of wildlife). It is a wonderful feeling to step outside the box when treating sick or injured wildlife and really making a difference to the lives of the wonderful animals that such a large percentage of Australians couldn’t care less about.
The training sessions run for approximately 2 hours 15 minutes and there is no cost involved. Please bring along a note pad, pen and warm clothes! (This is if you are coming to an evening session, it can be chilly at Bonorong!) All sessions are run at Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in the ‘Bush Tucker Shed’, or occasionally we run a session at UTAS usually in the Life Sciences Lecture Theatre in Sandy Bay. If the course you book in for is at Bonorong then when you arrive at Bonorong please park your car in the top car park (not the first one you get to) as far up as possible. The building at the top end of this car park is the bush tucker shed and there is an access door at the back of the building that people will be able to use when they arrive. If you choose a UTAS course then you will be given directions about one week before the date once we have confirmed what room we will be using. Please RSVP for a training session via return email or by phoning Bonorong on 6268 1184. Children are welcome and you may bring along interested family members or friends as long as you include them in your RSVP. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
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We gassed her down with ISO, as well as Dave and Lucky. Dave and Lucky then became Possum “BLOOD DONORS”. My job while wildlife is anaesthetised is to monitor that heart rate. This is a job with one animal let alone three to monitor. All went smoothly. After about one hour, all four of us headed home. Settled the boys back into their home so they could go back to sleep, made up a home for the little Princess and settled her down for two weeks in care with having Vitamin K injections daily for the next two weeks. All three had extra Lilly Pilly berries that night for being such great possums. Most people (including carers and
Visit us at 593 Briggs Road, Brighton, Tasmania 7030
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Here at Wicked Wildlife we live and breathe wildlife! We are a family run, home grown business with all the animals going to our shows being raised as our own pets. With a collection of well over 100 Australian animals, including lizards, snakes, crocodiles, parrots, possums and wallabies, we are sure to be able to cater for any show on any subject. Our shows are also absolutely 100% Interactive, meaning all of our animals can be patted, photographed and HELD at our events, after all, it is our belief that it is only when people are allowed positive hands on experiences with wild animals, that they feel driven to make a difference. CLICK HERE to learn more!
www.wickedwildlife.com.au Birthday Parties Schools and Kindergartens Fetes and Festivals Corporate Events
Our resident vet is a veterinarian with a keen interest in wildlife. Meet Colette Harmsen
Ask Colette Q1. What are some diseases from Australian Native Wildlife that are transmittible to humans?
Colette: There are quite a number of diseases that can be transferred between wildlife and humans. Here is a list of diseases, including those that may come to Australia from overseas due to movement of animals or humans (words in red are a direct link to our website for more information): Reptiles Salmonellosis Yersiniosis Western Equine Encephalomyelitis Sparganosis Amphibians Salmonellosis Sparganosis Tetraodontiae Poisoning Birds Salmonellosis Yersiniosis Tuberculosis Colibacillosis Erysipeloid Staphylococcosis Psittacosis Blastomycosis Cryptococcosis Histomycosis Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Dermatophytosis Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Hantaviruses Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis LaCrosse Encephalitis Rabies Acariasis Ticks Fleas Babesiosis American Trypanosomiasis Giardiasis Leishmaniasis Capillariasis Trichinosis Angiostrongyliasis Cestodiasis Sparganosis Schistosomiasis
St Louis Encephalitis Newcastle’s Disease Acariasis Marsupials Rabies Trichinosis Sparganosis Anthrax Dermatophytosis Leptospirosis Meliodosis Mycobacterium bovis Pasteurella multocida Q fever Salmonellosis Scabies Insects Dermatophytosis Bats Rabies Lyssavirus Rodents Salmonellosis Yersiniosis Plague Tuberculosis Leptospirosis Lyme Disease Relapsing Fever Campylobacteriosis Melioidosis Tularemia Rat Bite Fever Pasteurellosis Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Rickettsial Pox Murine Typhus
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Carnivores Rabies Trichinosis Visceral Larval Migrans Echinococcosis Sparganosis
Many of these diseases can cause serious illness in humans and some are potentially fatal. Volunteer wildlife carers should seek medical advice on suitable strategies to prevent or minimise the chances of contracting a zoonotic disease from animals in their care. Contact your local government authority or Department of Health or your medical practitioner for further information.
Q2. I know that lead is poisonous to birds. How can birds be exposed to lead?
Colette: Lead is extremely toxic to birds. It can be found in the following: Older Lead-Based Paints Stained Glass Caulking Some Types of Screens/Wires Antiques Batteries Bone Meal Products Dolomite Leaded Glass Ornaments Lead-Frame Doors/Windows Putty Some Zippers Solder Linoleum Bells with Lead Clappers Some Lubricants Drapery and Fishing Weights Costume Jewellery Air Rifle Pellets Light Bulb Bases Improperly Treated Drinking Water Bullets and Shotgun Shot Wine and Champaign Bottle Seal Foil Send in your question to Colette the Vet Email to: andrea@wildliferescuemagazine.com Page 49
Funnies Section
Andrea Devos
One Liners Why do kangaroo mums hate bad weather? Their joeys have to play inside. What do frogs drink? Croak-a-cola Why did the crocodile cross the road? It was following the chicken
Love Is...
What do you get when you cross a glove with a tassie devil? I don't know but I wouldn't want to shake hands with it Donated
Sealed with a kiss. Photo by Natasha Balletta. Natasha has donated her $25 prize money towards the purchase of milk supplements for Australian Native Wildlife Carers Thelma Dixon
Adopted
Donated
Deep within a forest, a little turtle began to climb a tree. After hours of effort, he reached the top, jumped into the air waving his front legs and crashed to the ground. After recovering, he slowly climbed the tree again, jumped, and fell to the ground. The turtle tried again and again, while a couple of birds sitting on a branch watched his sad efforts. Finally, the female bird turned to her mate. “Dear,” she chirped, “I think it’s time to tell him he’s adopted.” Jodie Blackney
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Facts about bats What is a bat?
A bat is a flying mammal, not a bird. Bats are the only flying mammal. How many different types of bats are there?
There are over 1000 species of bats in the world belonging to the Order Chiroptera (which means ‘hand winged’). These can be divided into 2 suborders: • The Megabats (Megachiroptera) of which there are about 170 species. These larger bats feed on nectar, pollen and fruit (flyingfoxes belong to this group). • Microbats (Microchiroptera) which make up the majority of bat species. These smaller bats are usually insect-eating, carnivorous bats. One quarter of all mammal species in the world are bats. In Australia there are over 90 species - both Microbats and Megabats. In Tasmania we do not have Megabats (flying foxes/fruit bats) we do have Microbats – 9 species: Lesser long-eared bat, Tasmanian long-eared bat, Chocolate wattled bat, Gould's wattled bat, Little forest bat, Eastern falsistrelle, Large forest bat, Southern forest bat, and Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
recently we have detected the white striped free tailed bat in Tasmania. Here are some answers to some commonly asked questions. Do bats have a pouch?
No, bats do not have a pouch. Only marsupial mammals have a pouch. Bats are eutherian (placental) mammals; their babies are born fully developed and are nourished on their mother’s milk – just like humans. What is special about a bat’s wing?
The wings of bats are made of two thin layers of almost hairless, soft, strong, elastic skin which stretches between very elongated finger bones and joins the side of the body from the arm to the ankle. In microbats the membrane extends between the legs and includes the tail. These wings contain blood vessels and nerves. They stretch easily for flight yet contract when not in use. Different bat species have different wing shapes depending on where and how they catch their food. Why do bats feed at night?
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nectar-producing plants. How big are bats?
Bats vary in weight from a few grams for the smallest bats to the largest flying-foxes which weigh over one kilogram. The smallest bat species have a wingspan of about 20 millimetres while the largest reach almost 2 metres. Why do bats hang upside down?
Bats hang by their feet with their head down because it is energy efficient. No energy is required to hang compared with defying gravity and standing upright. In order to reduce as much weight as possible for flight, the bones and muscles of the legs are very light weight compared with those of a non-flying mammal of comparable size. The biggest bones and muscles are those used for flying. Can bats swim?
Yes, they row themselves with their wings. Bats do not go swimming by choice. Are bats blind?
No. All bats have eyes and can see.
To feed on night flying insects therefore avoiding competition with birds that are active during the day. Megabats feed on night-flowering,
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Microbats (sub-order Microchiroptera) Bats from this group are found on all continents across the world except
Antarctica. In Australia there are many species of microbats ranging from the carnivorous ghost bat, the largest, weighing up to 150 grams, to tiny forest bats weighing 3 grams. Why are microbats important?
Microbats are important because they eat vast numbers of insects, thus contributing to the control of insect populations in the natural environment. This is important to modern society because they control many insect pests of crops and insects that spread disease such as malaria. What do microbats eat?
Each species eats different sized food including mice, frogs, other bats, small birds, fish, large grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetles, bugs, spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, flies, ants, mosquitoes, termites and gnats. On the American continents there are microbat species which also feed on fruit, flowers and blood. What sounds do microbats make?
Microbats are able to find their way in the dark and catch their food using echolocation. High frequency sound pulses made in the larynx (voicebox) are emitted either through the nose or mouth. Echoes of these Page 51
sounds reflected back to the bat’s ears allow it to know the position, relative distance and character of objects in its environment. The echo-location sounds are nearly all above the hearing range of people. Microbats use other sounds for communication particularly in the roost. Where do microbats go in the daytime?
Some microbat species live in caves in large colonies. Other species roost in hollows in trees, under bark, in small holes in logs or fence posts, in birds nests, under bridges, or in the roofs or walls of buildings. Radiotracking of individual microbats has shown that they use a number of different roosts in different areas. Microbats rarely move about in daylight.
Microbat in bat ornament
Where do microbats go during the night?
They go hunting for food. Most catch prey in flight but a few species hunt on all fours for ground living invertebrates. What do microbats do in the winter?
In winter there are few insects about so microbats, in cold climates (e.g. southern Australia), save energy by hibernating. They roost in a cold sheltered place, and are able to drop their body temperature close to that of their surroundings and slow their heart rate. Disturbance of hibernating bats can cause them to return to operating temperature. This uses up fat reserves, which they need to survive until there are enough insects to feed on. Disturbance of hibernating bats can cause them to die. Microbats can also use torpor which is similar to hibernation, but used only for a few hours or days to conserve energy when food is scarce. When and where do microbats have their babies?
Microbat babies are born in the spring/summer when days are warm and food is plentiful. Most species give birth to one young per year. Newborn microbats are not furred and their eyes are closed at first. By 6-8 weeks, they are fully developed and able to fly and feed with adults. Some species give birth in maternity caves where the shape of the Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Flying foxes leaving camp
cave roof traps the body heat of the adults so that the unfurred young are able to survive when the mothers leave them to feed at night. Some maternity caves are known to contain hundreds of thousands of bats. Other species form maternity colonies in the hollows of big old trees or in buildings. Mother microbats, which roost in tree hollows, carry their babies from one hollow to another. This behaviour may be to avoid predators or it might be to avoid a build up of parasites, or both. Megabats (sub-orderMegachiroptera) Megabats are large bats that navigate by sight and smell and feed on plant products. They can be found
in Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, Australia and many islands. In Australia there are 12 megabat species. These include flying-foxes, tube-nosed fruit bats and blossom bats. Of the 8 species of flying-fox there are five widespread species occurring on the mainland of Australia. These are the Black, the Silver, the Spectacled, the Grey-headed and the Little Red Flying-foxes. The first four of these have similar habits and lifestyle but are found in different parts of Australia, their ranges overlapping in part. The Little Red Flying-fox is smaller and gives birth at a different time to the others and tends to follow the flowering of Page 52
the eucalypts inland, moving to the coast irregularly. Is a flying-fox a bat?
Yes. Flying-foxes are sometimes called fruit bats but many of them eat parts of plants other than fruit, especially pollen and nectar – they belong to the MegaBat Group. What do flying-foxes do at night?
Flying-foxes leave their camp soon after sunset to feed during the night, even in rainy weather. They return to camp before sunrise. What do flying-foxes eat?
Their main source of food is nectar and pollen from the flowers of native trees, such as the many species of eucalyptus, as well as turpentines, paperbarks and banksias. They also eat fruit from many rainforest plants, such as figs and lilly pilly. They chew the fruit to extract the juice and spit out the fibre and drop the big seeds. They swallow the juice and some small seeds up to 4 mm in diameter. They also chew leaves of plants such as mangroves and figs. At times they also feed on non-native fruit and flowers. Why are flying-foxes important?
Flying-foxes are essential in maintaining ecosystems because they can move pollen and seeds over long distances and across cleared ground, linking patches of native vegetation. The clearing of native vegetation in the last two centuries has removed Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
much vegetation and has left the remainder scattered in isolated patches. Birds and insects often don't fly the long distances required to transfer pollen or seeds between vegetation patches. Flying-foxes carry pollen on their fur between flowering trees that can be many kilometres apart. Many Australian trees, especially eucalypts, need pollen from another tree of the same species to make fertile seed. Rainforest seeds are carried away from parent trees which gives them a chance to germinate and grow. How long do grey-headed flying-foxes take to digest their food? Why is this important?
Flying-foxes have a very short intestine and absorb their mostly liquid diet very rapidly. The average time from mouth to anus (doing a poo) is about 20 minutes although some material takes up to an hour. This is important for seed dispersal because the small seeds contained in the faeces (poo) fall and germinate in new areas leading to new trees and vines. How fast do flying-foxes fly?
Grey-headed flying-foxes fly about 25-30km per hour. Some were observed in a wind tunnel where their average flight speed for distance travelling was recorded as 7m per second (25 km/hr). In the wind tunnel test a grey-headed flying-fox maintained a speed of 26 km per hour
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Grey headed flying fox. Photo by B.G. Thomson
for four hours. Carpenter R E (1985) Flight physiology of flying foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus Journal of Experimental Biology, 114 pp 619 - 47. Flying-foxes also use the wind to travel long distances and have been recorded at speeds of 50 km per hour. Nelson J and Tidemann C Satellite tracking of flying-foxes, Monash University website
How far do flying-foxes fly in one night?
The majority of flying-foxes feed during the night within a radius of 30 km from their camp, however, when feeding on blossom may travel up to 100 km during the night. Some feed in the same place on successive nights. This information was obtained by radio-tracking individual flying-foxes. Eby P (1995) The biology and Page 53
management of flying foxes in NSW Species management report No 18, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service How well do flying-foxes see?
Flying-foxes see very well during the day and much better than humans at night. They have relatively large eyes in the front of their skull. Their acute eye-sight enables them to navigate accurately and to find food at night. Many of their food plants have white blossom making them easy to see when flying above the trees at night. In daylight they are also able to fly and land on branches within the camp and use sight during social interactions in bright sunlight. How important is smell to a flying-fox?
Flying-foxes use their excellent sense of smell to locate nectar and ripe fruit. Currawong
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What do flying-foxes do in the daytime?
Flying-foxes are social animals. They roost together in the tops of trees. During the day they spend some time sleeping, often hanging by one foot, with their wings wrapped around their body. They also spend many hours grooming themselves, squabbling noisily and fanning themselves when hot. Females care for their young. The area they occupy is called a camp or a colony. A camp may contain a few hundred to tens of thousands of flying-foxes. Flying-foxes move to an alternative camp when food is not available nearby. Most of these camps have been in use for more than 100 years. What predators do flying-foxes have?
Predators known to eat flyingfoxes include carpet pythons, goannas, sea-eagles and the Powerful Owl. Currawongs and ravens are known to attack flying-foxes found on their own in the daytime. These predators do not significantly reduce the overall flyingfox population. The most likely victims are the young, the sick or old. The numbers taken are small relative to the flying-fox population. Predators contribute to the health of a population by removing the least fit individuals. Humans and their technology are responsible for more flying-fox deaths
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than natural predators – for example, through the removal of habitat by clearing native vegetation, shooting, and electrocutions on power lines. What sounds do flying-foxes make?
Flying-foxes are social animals and make a wide range of calls. These include contact calls, chirps and squabbles, searching calls by mother flying-foxes seeking their young when returning to the colony, and a range of mating and warning calls. At night feeding flying-foxes are often heard in flowering or fruiting trees as they compete for food. Australian flying-foxes do not echo-locate; that is, they do not use sound to locate or navigate. What do flying-foxes hear?
Flying-foxes have a simple external ear, unlike the complex ears of micro-bats. The part of the brain which controls hearing is small in flying-foxes compared to that in micro-bats. This suggests that hearing is of minor importance to flying-foxes compared with other senses. How do flying-foxes recognise each other?
They recognise each other by sight and smell. Flying-foxes have scent glands on their shoulders. This scent is spread over their body while grooming. They sniff each other during social interactions. Males rub their scent glands onto tree branches in the colony to mark a territory. Mothers
recognise their young by their calls and by their smell. How far do flying-foxes move during the year?
Flying-fox numbers in a camp increase and decrease throughout the year, depending on the availability of food. The flowering of many species occurs irregularly in different areas and different times of the year, governed mainly by variations in weather. Radio-tracking of Grey-headed flying-foxes found that in 1990, one moved from Grafton to feed on the flowers of spotted gum near Narooma – about 800 km south – and another flew from Lismore to Bundaberg in Queensland, about 400 km to feed on lemon-scented gum. Hand-reared juvenile flying-foxes were tracked between Gordon, Sydney Botanic Gardens and Cabramatta Creek and some found 310 km north and 279 km south in April and May. Augee M and Ford D (1999) Radiotracking Studies of Grey-headed Flying-foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus, from the Gordon Colony, Sydney. A minimum distance of 978 km was recorded when one was marked on the thumb by a numbered band and released in Lismore on 31/8/91 and was reported electrocuted at Bombala on 12/2/92. By tracking a few individual flying-foxes by satellite it has been found that individuals travel Page 54
Baby Spectacled Flying Fox. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
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great distances, for example, one moved from Melbourne to Mallacoota then north along the coast, stopping at Ulladulla and Jamberoo, then to Sydney, where it moved between several more camps. How long do flying-foxes live?
Little is known about what age the majority of flying-foxes reach in the wild. Records of banded flying-foxes indicate that some live for up to 12 years in the wild. The oldest captive educational Grey-headed flying-fox, cared for by Ku-ring-gai Bat Conservation Society, was born in 1978 and died of old age in 2000 aged 22. Several others have lived to a similar age in captivity. Natural disasters, such as the high temperatures (over 40C) and low humidity that occurred in Sydney in January 2002, have killed thousands of flying-foxes of all ages. How do flying-foxes keep clean?
Flying-foxes groom their fur frequently with their claws and lick their wings. They urinate on themselves to wash and in the summer they urinate on themselves, then fan their wings to cool down. Do flying-foxes have parasites?
Like all mammals bats are hosts to tiny parasites that live much of their life cycle on the animal. Bat flies are wingless flies, only a few millimetres long, which are adapted to avoid being groomed out of the fur by the bat or Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
blown off during flight. They feed on the bat’s blood. They are species specific and cannot live on other mammals such as humans. Flying-foxes also have internal parasites which have adapted to live in the flying-fox population without causing undue illness in their hosts except during times of food shortage. One is a worm (Toxocara pteropodis), which is transferred with the milk from mother to young and from young to adult through faeces on branches. Again this organism cannot live in humans. Occasionally flying-foxes are hosts to ticks and mites. In Queensland a number of Spectacled Flying-foxes die each year from tick poisoning. Do flying-foxes drink?
Where do they get their protein?
The major source of protein in a flying-fox's diet is pollen. Much of the pollen is licked from its fur while the flying-fox is grooming. Protein is used to build muscle tissue. Pollen grains break open in the gut so that the contents are absorbed. Some native fruits such as figs are also a source of valuable protein. Where do flying-foxes get carbohydrate?
Nectar and fruit juice provide the April 2012
How many teeth does a flying-fox have?
34 Their dental formula: upper tooth row: incisors = 2-2, canines = 1-1, premolars = 3-3, molars = 2-2; lower tooth row: incisors = 2-2, canines = 11, premolars = 3-3, molars = 3-3. When and where do flying-foxes give birth?
After becoming pregnant in autumn (March-April), they give birth in spring (mainly October-November). This is a gestation period of about six months. They give birth in the tree tops, usually in the colony. How many babies do they have?
Yes. They swoop down to bellydip in rivers and dams. They then land on trees and lick the water from their belly fur. They also lick dew from leaves.
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carbohydrates – sugars. These provide energy. Some species of eucalypts, especially bloodwoods (Corymbia spp) are known to produce most of their nectar at night.
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One baby is born to each female. The baby is born furred and with its eyes open. It weighs about 80 grams at birth although birth weight varies according to the availability of food for the mother during her pregnancy. How do flying-fox mothers care for their young?
The female has two nipples, one on either side of her chest beneath the wingpit. As soon as the baby is born it begins to suckle. Its milk teeth curve backwards so that it can keep a firm hold. She protects her baby with her wings during the daytime. At night when she flies to search for food the baby holds onto its
mother, with its mouth around the nipple and with its claws in her fur. The baby is not able to maintain its own body temperature until it is 15 - 17 days old so for about a month is carried by the mother while she feeds at night. The young are then left in the camp during the night and the mother returns to it before sunrise. Young flying-foxes gradually increase their flying skills until by 12 weeks of age they explore the local area around the camp, then increase the distance beyond until they are flying out with the adults to feed. Some are seen still suckling in the daytime in the mating season. When do flying-foxes mate?
Mating occurs between March and May. Males mark a territory in a tree and defend it from other males during the summer and autumn. They are joined by females, many with young. Males guard several females in their harem. Harems are generally unstable groupings, with the females moving, at will, to other males. Thank you to www.dse.vic.gov.au for this excellent information. (edited)
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PHOTO ESSAY
Trowunna Wildlife Park
Trowunna's large Devil marks the entry to Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
Cinnamon - 22 year old albino blotched blue tongue lizard. Photo by Andrea Devos
T
rowunna Wildlife Park is 36 acres of sanctuary for Wedgetail Eagles, wallabies, wombats, owls, where the Australian landscape has not been cultivated – it is an untouched wilderness, long tussock grasses which shares a small portion with a wildlife park who are passionate in their breeding programs of the endangered Tasmanian Devil and the spotted quoll and the eastern quolls. As you arrive you are greeted by a large Tassie devil announcing that you have arrived at the Trowunna Wildlife Park (Trowunna is pronounced Troe – one – ah) Once arrived you will be greeted by the friendly shop dog named Milkyway. She is friendly and very sweet. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Enjoying a welcoming greeting from Milky Way. Photo by Andrea Devos
Milky Way the resident host. Photo by Andrea Devos Enjoy shopping while at Trowunna. Photo by Cameron Marriage
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Andrea Devos
The shop has some lovely memorabilia and souvenirs. There is also an albino blotched blue tongue lizard housed in an aquarium in the shop named Cinnamon – 22 years of age and still going strong – she was rescued from the mouth of a cat by a kind person and brought to the Trowunna Wildlife Park when she was just a baby so they estimate she was born in 1991. Out in the park you will find Koala’s who have been in a breeding program for over 30 years but since the urgent need to protect the Tassie Devils their breeding has taken a backburner and now the park is dedicated to breeding program of Tasmanian Devils and the Spotted Tailed Quoll (releasing close to 40 since 1988) and the little Eastern Quolls and Page 57
An inquisitive Spotted Tailed Quoll in a breeding program at Trowunna. With over 40 released back into the wild so far. Photo by Stephan Devos
they have been able to breed and release back into the wild at least 20 so far. When we were there we got to see baby Eastern Quoll babies playing in their enclosure. We went into the Devil’s area and were surprised to see that we were wending our way along a track and surrounding us was high tussock grasses. I asked the park ranger why it was not mowed and the answer is the most lovely one I have ever heard, he said,’Here at Trowunna we believe that animals come first – we leave this long because this is what the devil’s see and it is natural for them, also in the days Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
when it didn’t matter who bred with who we would put a female on heat in the centre and she would choose her mate by jumping in their enclosure or vice versa ( the devil could jump into an enclosure but not back out). We felt very special as we were able to pat a tassie devil baby, however everybody who comes to the park can have the same privilege of patting one of these unique babies. They had a really friendly wombat and were allowed to pat her – he showed us the pouch and the tail of this gorgeous wombat. Free ranging Kangaroos were
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Spotted Tailed Quoll with her babies enjoying the sun in their large enclosure. Photo by Andrea Devos
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Tasmanian Devils interacting at Trowunna Wildlife Park. Photo by Andrea Devos
No two devils have the same markings each is unique. Photo by Andrea Devos
Enjoying the sun - a couple of young devil's successfully bred at the park. Photo by Andrea Devos
Tasmanian Devil now on our endangered list. Photo by Andrea Devos
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Stephan Devos enjoying a pat of a baby Tasmanian Devil. Photo by Andrea Devos
A very contented Tasmanian Devil youngster - Photo by Stephan Devos
enjoying their time here at the park, with the cape barren geese and wallabies too. We were so happy to see a wild wedgetail eagle flying above the park – they told us they are a nesting pair from the back of their acreage. The park is well known for its rescued animals whom they give a
Cameron Marriage enjoying a pat of a baby Tasmanian Devil. Photo by Andrea Devos
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home to: wedgetail eagles, tawny frogmouths, kookaburras, a galah and cockatoos, but my favourite is the beautiful owl, she has been in care with a bad wing which never healed correctly so she cannot fly, but she can climb, so, for the last 10 years she has enjoyed coming and going from her Page 60
Cameron Marriage is being introduced to a wombat. Photo by Andrea Devos
Handler showing us the tiny tail of the Wombat. Photo by Andrea Devos
The backward facing pouch of this young female wombat. Photo by Andrea Devos
A happy wombat enjoying a cuddle from his handler. Photo by Andrea Devos
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Spotted Tailed Quoll. Photo by Stephan Devos
Cape Barren Geese run wild and free over the grounds of Trowunna Wildlife Park. Photo by Cameron Marriage
A beautiful wedgetail eagle flys free over the Trowunna Wildlife Park - nesting on the acreage belonging to Trowunna. Photo by Andrea Devos
A couple of young wombats bred at Trowunna. Photo by Andrea Devos
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Free ranging kangaroos enjoying the shade of one of the many trees at Trowunna.
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Vote for your favourite story Please choose between:
Introducing the toilet seat as a safe way for resident owl (injured and cannot fly) to leave her enclosure and climb the tree to interact with other owls.
Page 11 Page 33 Page 36 Page 40 Page 43 Page 46
A Spikey Dragon - Linda Dennis Annie - Stella Reid Orphaned Flying Fox Rescue - Robin Wingrave Old Man Possum - Brenda Marmion Bionic’s Story - Jess Janson Princess Possum - Terri Eather
The winner wins a signed copy of Camp Croc by Trudie Trewin – a teenage story book. Get ready for another lightning read! Camp Trib is legendary. Daks is finally there after years of waiting. But so are two wildlife smugglers. Who should Daks and his mates be more afraid of? The Smugglers? Or the wildlife? Email your choice to andrea@wildliferescuemagazine.com
Owl with injured wing - living at Trowunna now for 10 years.
aviary, climbing through the toilet seat onto the tree branch – she gets visited by males in the area and sometimes she may even disappear for a day or two but she always returns to her home. We were lucky to have met the proprietor Androo Kelly and his wonderful dog Milky Way.
CLICK HERE to visit the website www.trowunna.com.au Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
Androo Kelly – proud owner of Trowunna Wildlife Park
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What to do with a Wiggling Wombat Linda Dennis is proud to present the two hour course, What to do with a Wiggling Wombat, a Fauna First Aid lecture. There are two sessions of "Wiggling Wombat", one for pre-schoolers and one directed at children in infants and primary school.
Fauna First Aid
Although titled "Wiggling Wombat" the course covers all native animals including birds, kangaroos, reptiles, koalas and of course wombats!
The Program
The course includes the following topics: • What do you do if you come across a wiggling wombat in distress? • How does your mum or dad pick up a wiggling wombat? • What do you feed a wiggling wombat?
Fauna First Aid is a wildlife lecture program that Linda established in 2004. The lectures are aimed at wildlife carers, veterinary nurse students, schools and community groups. Fourth Crossing Wildlife is incredibly proud to announce that the Australian Geographic Society supports Fauna First Aid. Linda could not be more honoured to receive this support and thanks the Australian Geographic Society from the bottom of her heart. The support, donations and sponsorship from the Australian Geographic Society will help Linda teach the public – adults and children alike – how to correctly handle native animals that have been injured or are in distress which will help prevent the animal and the handler from being injured during contact. If you are interested in learning more about the Fauna First Aid lectures, or would like to book a session then please email Linda at linda@fourthcrossingwildlife.com.
In the fun filled program Linda shares stories of some of the native animals that have been in her care over the 10 years she's been a wildlife carer. The inaugural "Wiggling Wombat" at Trinity Preschool in Orange, NSW
There was also a "take a wild guess" competition using photographs and the wonderful native animal soft toys that were donated to the program by the Australian Geographic Society and Mink Plush (a Division of TomFoolery Holdings Pty Ltd). Bookmarks featuring native animals, and chocolate Freddo Frogs, Caramello Koalas and Fruity Frogs are given as prizes. During the competition Linda also displayes how to properly handle a native animal so that the handler and the animal are not injured. She also advises what the "nasty bits" are in each animal species, such as claws and teeth (and in the male Platypus’ case – the poisonous spurs!).
Class photo at Trinity Preschool
The two hour long presentation has the kids transfixed and keen to learn more. An eight page booklet titled "What to do with a Wiggling Wombat" is also eagerly received. This mini-manual, which details correct handling technique, is distributed to all students for them to take home and share with their families. The Fauna First Aid program is not only fun for participants but also educational and in the long run our precious native animals will benefit from Linda's knowledge sharing.
Class K12 group photo, Gum Flat Public School
The more the community knows about rescuing and providing short term care for native animals the better. And in the end, from a combined community effort, there will be more animals that are received into care and rehabilitated by experienced wildlife carers, resulting in more animals being returned to the bush… which is exactly where they belong. If you would like to book a Fauna First Aid session for your school or community group please contact Linda at linda@fourthcrossingwildlife.com.
Fourth Crossing Wildlife is supported and sponsored by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia - they do a lot to support my work
Southern Wildlife Rescue & Care (SWRC) The training days/workshops we have coming up for Southern Wildlife Rescue & Care (SWRC), SWRC is a Wildcare group. Saturday 2 June 2012 Beginner’s Wildlife Carer’s Course Launceston Environment Centre Sunday 1 July 2012 A Guide to the Care of Bare-Nosed Wombats by Linda Dennis Campania Hall, Campania Saturday 22 September 2012 Assessment & Treatment of Burnt Wildlife by Dr Anne Fowler Launceston (venue TBA) Sunday 23 September 2012 Assessment & Treatment of Burnt Wildlife by Dr Anne Fowler Campania Hall, Campania Saturday 20 October 2012 Husbandry & Rehabilitation of Water Birds & Sea Birds by Dr Anne Fowler Campania Hall, Campania Sunday 21 October 2012 Advanced First Aid For Birds by Dr Anne Fowler Campania Hall, Campania For more information people can contact me:Email steoclark@yahoo.com.au Phone (03) 62593038 www.southernwildlife.org
Australian bat lyssavirus infection and rabies
Donated
VIROLOGY Australian bat lyssavirus and rabies virus are members of the family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus. There are seven known genotypes within the genus Lyssavirus; Australian bat lyssavirus (genotype 7) is more closely related to rabies virus (genotype 1) than any of the other six genotypes. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING VACCINATED IF CARING FOR BATS/FLYING FOXES Clinical features Based on the two recognised human cases of Australian bat lyssavirus infection, it has to be assumed that Australian bat lyssavirus has the same clinical features as rabies. (In Australia, two cases of a fatal rabies-like illness caused by Australian bat lyssavirus have been reported, one in 1996 and the other in 1998. Both patients had been bitten by bats.) Typically, in the early symptom phase of rabies, which lasts up to ten days, the patient may experience nonspecific symptoms such as anorexia, Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
cough, fever, headache, myalgia, nausea, sore throat, tiredness and vomiting. Paraesthesiae (is a sensation of tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect. It is more generally known as the feeling of "pins and needles" or of a limb "falling asleep". The manifestation of paresthesia may be transient or chronic and/or fasciculations ("muscle twitch") at or near the site of the wound may be present at this stage. Anxiety, agitation and apprehension may also occur. Most rabies patients present with the furious or encephalitic form. In the encephalitic phase, objective signs of nervous system involvement include aerophobia, hydrophobia, bizarre behaviour, disorientation and hyperactivity. Signs of autonomic instability such as hypersalivation, hyperthermia and hyperventilation may occur.1 The neurological status of the patient deteriorates over a period of up to 12 days, and the patient either dies
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abruptly from cardiac or respiratory arrest, or lapses into a coma. Rabies is almost invariably fatal. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AS A WILDLIFE CARER TO BECOME A BAT CARER? First you will need to be vaccinated against rabies, using a dose of 0.1 mL on days 0, 7 and 28. To do this you will need to go to your doctor and your doctor will give you a script for Rabies Vaccine (inactivated) Vial + Dil 2.5 Units/ml m.d.u. Make sure he supplies you with two scripts for Day 0 and Day 7, at this point you may decide to also get a script for day 28. You will need to pre-order the rabies vaccine at your local chemist/ pharmacy as it can take them up to four days to get the vaccine in. It is important that you order two vaccines for Day 0 and Day 7 as if you miss Day 7 the first vaccine will be void and you will need to start again. The cost of the Rabies Vaccine is around $100 each. ($95 here in Tasmania.) There is no government
discount so the fee is to be paid in FULL – make sure you have enough money to purchase both vaccines to ensure you do not miss the Day 7 vaccination. When you pick up your vaccines make sure you order for Day 28 or you can order and pay for all 3 vaccines. (around $300). A follow up of a booster is required in the first year – after that booster doses of rabies vaccine should be considered for immunised people who have ongoing exposure to either Australian bat lyssavirus or rabies. People who work with live lyssaviruses in research laboratories are at risk of inapparent exposures, and should have rabies antibody titres measured every six months. If the titre is reported as inadequate, they should have a booster dose. Other laboratory workers who perform Australian bat lyssavirus or rabies diagnostic tests, those with occupational exposures to bats in Australia like wildlife carers, should have rabies antibody titres measured every two years (by a blood test). Page 67
WHAT IF I AM BITTEN OR SCRATCHED BY A BAT AND I HAVE NOT BEEN IMMUNISED? Summary of Australian bat lyssavirus and rabies post-exposure treatment for non-immune individuals Local treatment wound cleansing immediately is vital (see below). 5 x Rabies vaccine injected in deltoid area (upper arm) - 1.0 mL immediately – then on days 3, 7, 14, 30. Human rabies immunoglobulin Injection - (150 IU / mL) – to be given 20 IU/kg immediately and another 20 IU/kg – no later than 7 days after rabies vaccine started. HOW TO CLEAN THE WOUND EFFECTIVELY Immediate and thorough washing of all bite wounds and scratches with soap and water, and the application of a virucidal preparation such as povidone-iodine solution after the washing, is an important measure in the prevention of Australian Bat Lyssavirus infection and rabies. Consideration should be given at this stage of wound management to the possibility of tetanus and other wound infections, and appropriate measures taken. Primary stitching of a bite (suturing) from a potentially rabid animal should be avoided. Bites should be cleaned, surgically trimmed and Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
well infiltrated (injected) with Human rabies immunoglobulin (see above). Suture(or stitches), if necessary, should be performed after 1 to 2 weeks, when it can be assumed that the patient has circulating neutralising antibodies. The treatment subsequent to the wound management is the same for both Australian Bat Lyssavirus and rabies exposures, except that consideration may be given to omitting the Human rabies immunoglobulin if it is more than one year after an exposure to Australian Bat Lyssavirus. This is because the risk of infection at this time is considered to be low. Advice should be sought from the relevant State/Territory health authorities. ARE YOU A WILDLIFE CARER WITH CHILDREN AND YOU INTEND TO CARE FOR BATS – SHOULD YOU VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN AND PARTNER? YES – The volume of vaccine administered to infants and children is the same as that given to adults (ie.1.0 mL). Thank you to www.bats.org.au for supplying this information on their website – information taken from The Australian Immunisation Handbook 8th Edition.
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HOW TO BECOME A F.O.C MEMBER TODAY! 7KH ) 2 & :LOGOLIH 3URJUDP LV 7DVPDQLD¡V ILUVW DQG RQO\ KU YROXQWHHU ZLOGOLIH DVVLVWDQFH VHUYLFH ) 2 & VWDQGV IRU œ)ULHQGV RI &DUHUV )ULHQGV RI &ULWWHUV )UHH RI &KDUJH¡ 7KLV VHUYLFH LV SULYDWHO\ IXQGHG HQWLUHO\ by Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.
WE NEED MORE WILDLIFE RESCUE VOLUNTEERS! x
The F.O.C has taken over 1500 wildlife rescue calls in its first 12 months of operation. We need 1000 more volunteers state-wide.
Could you be a wildlife rescuer? We have people working full-time, families, uni students and retirees on our rescue team. Everyone can help somehow; if you are unsure contact us!
All you need to do is: x x x x
x
Give Bonorong your contact details and receive an email about the next scheduled F.O.C training session. Attend a F.O.C rescue training session at Bonorong (Remember training is free of charge) You are then put on our rescue database and you will receive text messages when animals need help in your area. If time allows and you feel like doing the rescue you can volunteer to help. This is not raising wildlife; it is simply rescuing and transporting the animal to where it needs to go. When any wildlife carers need help you will receive group emails for working bees and if you are free, you can volunteer to help them and their wildlife.
It is as simple as that! This program is not designed to overload anyone and no experience is required. It is for people that have too many commitments to raise wildlife but still want to help our amazing animals in some way. A lot of people doing a little can make a big difference.
For more info contact Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary on 62 68 11 84 or email petra@bonorong.com.au ) 2 &SURWHFWLQJ 7DVPDQLD¡V :LOGOLIH
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MICROBAT SERIES
Hand-rearing the Microbat
by Amanda Lollar and Andrea Devos
VIDEO LINK If you didn't see the video at the beginning of this article then you should view it now as it will show you how to place the foam tip in the pup’s mouth and how to feed and clean it afterwards.
CLICK HERE www.youtube.com/user/BatWorldSanctuary
MICROBATS (sub-order Microchiroptera) Microbats from this group are found on all continents across the world except Antarctica. In Australia there are many species of microbats ranging from the carnivorous ghost bat, the largest, weighing up to 150g, to little forest bats weighing 3g.
To show the contrast of a Megabat to a Microbat. Photo by Mary Crichton
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING MICROBAT PUPS Close attention should be paid to temperature and humidity levels when caring for Microbat pups – for this reason we ask that when you find a microbat you do not attend to it yourself unless you are a vaccinated wildlife carer with experience. The following information although detailed is still only general information as both Megabats and Microbats are a specialised field. There is a HIGH NEED for bat carers throughout Australia so we hope this issue will motivate some of you to choose to become Bat Carers. Please enjoy the following information. PLEASE NOTE This article only covers "Feeding and Housing of Microbats" - we invite you to go to our website and view online a training manual - ‘Rescue, Rehabilitation and Release for Microbats’ (no download necessary) brought out by an experienced carer in the field of Microbats - Gerardine Hawkins. Training classes are available through her, you can email her at batsgalore@shoalhaven.net.au
Southern forest bats (Vespadelus regulus) photo by Ashleigh Johnson Tolga Bat Hospital Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Little forest bat by Lisa Cawthen
CLICK HERE www.wildliferescuemagazine.com/ to view the training manual PDF
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The teeth of the little forest Microbat. Photo by Narelle Power
The penis of the little forest Microbat. Photo by Narelle Power
The teeth of little forest Microbat. Photo by Narelle Power
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Measuring the wing of the little forest Microbat to estimate its age. Photo by Narelle Power The little forest Microbat. Photo by Narelle Power
Perspective of the size of Microbat hairless pup two days old. Photo by Mary Crichton
Pups that are naked (furless), toothless, or those that have tiny, sharp-hooked milk teeth should be fed milk formulas. Orphaned microbats are typically dehydrated when received, so they will need to be rehydrated with an electrolyte solution (such as Hydralyte). If you see a bat with his wings spread straight out – this bat is dehydrated. Emaciated infants should be rehydrated and then fed as soon as fluids are absorbed, usually within 10 to 20 minutes. Do not dilute formula when feeding emaciated infant microbats. Emaciated infants require maximum nutrition in order to fill caloric deficits; diluting milk formulas for starving infants only increases the risk of nutritional Page 70
deficiencies such as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Pups that are fully furred but that have elongated joints in the wings are juveniles. Juveniles that are underweight should be fed a mushed up mealworm with added protein and vitamins diet many call this “Bat Custard”. Juveniles that are not underweight should be fed the whole mealworm diets for adult bats, including both live mealworms and bat custard.. Juvenile microbats old enough to eat the soft food diet should be completely rehydrated before food is offered. So offer water until they stop drinking then feed then offer water again after the meal – until they choose to stop drinking themselves. Failure to restore bodily fluids before introducing solid foods can be fatal. The mouth of an orphaned free-tailed pup. Bat World facility. Photo by A. Lollar
Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
In addition to medical attention and food, orphaned microbat pups need nurturing. Gentle handling and soothing tones must be used when caring for these animals. Pups spend a great deal of time in physical contact with their mothers therefore, direct handling is recommended for the pups well being and sense of security. For the same reason, microbat pups should not be housed alone. Microbat pups need to be kept warm (between 32° and 37.7° Celsius) during feeding. Never expose a pup to drafts from fans or air-conditioners. Pups should be placed on a warm, clean cloth (face washers are great for this. Fold in half or into quarters) on top of a heating pad for feeding. The composition of milk varies from species to species. Composition also varies throughout the course of lactation. Orphaned microbat pups do well on milk replacers – recommended one is Wombaroo Milk Replacer (a wonderful South Australian product) Juvenile and adult microbats are offered live mealworms (if you are storing mealworms for later use – you must refrigerate them to prevent them becoming beetles), bats love live moths and in a wonderful PDF available HERE you can see a fabulous way to catch your very own bugs for your microbats , and live crickets (must refrigerate crickets first to put them in
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a torpor state which will slow them down or else they will hop away if you don’t). You must gutload your mealworms to make them fat and healthy for your Microbats. Here is some varieties of Gut loader – “Pisces Enterprises Gut Loader”, “Wombaroo Insect Booster”, “Missing Link”. (If refrigerating mealworms for later use, than feed to mealworms once a week – must take mealworms out of fridge for 48 hrs so they can feed – and then you can return to fridge – do this weekly.) You must remove live mealworms from the refrigerator about 5 days before you are ready to feed your microbats because you must gutload them by giving them the additives to become fat for your microbats. Make sure all gutloader is off the mealworms before feeding to your microbats. When starting a juvenile on mealworms some carers prefer to remove the heads from the mealworm and offer just the guts, when the juvenile gets used to the taste and is taking it easily then offer with outer castings as this is good for them but keep removing the heads, then you can offer the whole mealworm with the heads too. Lesser Longeared, Goulds Longeared and Goulds Wattle microbats will collect the heads in their cheek pouches and when they have 10 of them they will spit them out.
A coffee warmer works well to warm milk . Photo by A. Lollar
Once a milk formula has been prepared, an electric coffee cup or candle warmer can be used to keep it warm during feeding sessions, although formula will scald if the container is placed directly on the warmer, one way to avoid this is to place the container of formula in a
Goulds Wattled Bat by Rohan Clarke
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shallow bowl of warm water and place the bowl of water on the coffee cup warmer. Constantly monitor the temperature. Microbat pups typically prefer milk formula at a temperature that feels somewhat warmer (46° to 49° Celsius) on the wrist than that considered appropriate for human infants. If the formula becomes too hot, remove it from the heated water for a few moments until it cools sufficiently. Feeding tools that become clogged with thickened formula during feeding can be rinsed clean in the warmed water.
determine when a pup is full. The stomach should be moderately rounded, but not bulging with milk . A distended abdomen indicates the pup has been allowed to drink too much, a condition that can be fatal. Feeding too Often Abdominal distention
A free-tail pup with a distended abdomen from overfeeding. T. brasiliensis. Photo by A. Lollar
A male red bat orphan after being fed the proper amount of milk for-mula, which resulted in the abdomen being moderately rounded without being distended. L. borealis. Bat World facility. Photo by A. Lollar
FEEDING SCHEDULE It takes only a small amount of milk formula to fill the stomachs of most pups. Because some infants are naked or sparsely furred for the first few weeks of life, milk formula can clearly be seen through the skin of the abdomen. Depending on the size, age, and condition of an infant, it will take anywhere from a few drops to 1.0ml of milk formula per feeding. Pups of most species should not be allowed to drink more than 1.0ml per feeding; serious gastric disturbance can result from overfeeding. Pups taking 1.0ml of formula per feeding should not be fed more than four times per day (once every six hours). Visual or tactile examination should be used to Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
accompanied by white or grayish faeces indicates bloat caused by feeding a pup too often. This type of bloat should be treated by feeding a diluted mixture of one part milk formula to nine parts very warm water (46° to 49° Celsius). Do not allow the pup to drink the normal amount it consumes at every feeding as this will
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cause additional distention. Rather, feed the pup about one-quarter of the normal amount taken. As the stomach empties of previously undigested milk, continue to feed the water and milk formula dilution in place of regular feedings until faeces appear normal. Overfeeding A pup’s abdomen should appear moderately rounded when adequately full. Bloat caused from over-feeding will be obvious immediately after the pup has been fed as the stomach will appear dangerously distended. The stomach is distended with milk to the point that it covers the bottom two April 2012
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of the new syringe prior to the procedure. This can be accomplished by moving the plunger up and down inside the barrel of the syringe. This procedure must be done as aseptically as possible to prevent the development of peritonitis, which can be fatal. This technique requires two caretakers for the procedure. Aseptically swab the abdomen with povidone iodine and 70% isopropyl
Extracting milk from an overfed pup in respiratory distress. T. brasiliensis. Photo by A. Lollar
ribs and extends across the abdomen and down to the pelvis. This can normally be treated by skipping the next one to two feedings until the pup’s stomach has returned to normal. The condition is life threatening if the stomach is marble-sized and hard, and/or the pup is in respiratory distress. When milk inside the stomach is clearly visible through the skin of pups that aren’t yet furred, excess formula can be aspirated directly from the stomach using a 1ml syringe with a 28-gauge needle attached. In order to prevent damage to the pup or its stomach, it is critical to break the seal created between the barrel of the syringe and the plunger Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
alcohol. Position the pup on its back on a padded surface, such as a soft cloth. The pup must be held firmly and gently in position by one caretaker to prevent the pup from moving. The other caretaker then carefully inserts the needle 3 to 4mm directly into the stomach. Using a steady hand, slowly pull back on the plunger. Withdraw enough excess milk so the abdomen returns to a more normal size. Maintain slight pressure on the plunger as you withdraw the needle from the abdomen. Pups undergoing this procedure should receive oral administration of antibiotics 0.2ml two times a day for 10 days. Regardless of the species or the
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age of an infant, feeding schedules should be determined by the amount of time it takes for an individual pup’s stomach to empty. To determine an infant’s feeding schedule, first become familiar with the look and the feel of the pup’s abdomen both before and after its first feeding. Take note of the visual appearance and how the abdomen feels when gently palpated with the fingertips. Note the time and check the pup each hour thereafter. Do not let the stomach empty completely and appear concave. Keep enough formula in the pup at all times to keep the abdomen flat to moderately rounded. Feed the pup again when the milk formula is nearly gone (i.e. when the stomach is almost flat, or only a small amount of milk formula is visible in the stomach). If the pup is already furred, milk will not be visible through the abdomen and the handler will need to rely solely on tactile examination. Note the time it took for the stomach to empty in order to estimate when the next feeding will be due. Feeding infants too often can result in bloat, i.e. distention of the stomach and severe abdominal distress, which can lead to death. Most pups will initially require feedings every four to six hours (four to six times a day) depending on their condition, although some pups’ stomachs may empty in as little as two hours. Younger pups and pups that are
emaciated will need to be fed more often than older pups that are healthy. In other words, as pups grow older and become healthier, the number of feedings per day will decrease. Important Notes Pups can aspirate fluids or choke on food while being hand-fed. A bat may be choking if it suddenly coughs, gags and/or appears to gasp for breath during feeding. If aspiration is suspected, keep the bat’s head down with the abdomen against the palm of the hand. Gently but firmly tap the bat’s back with your index finger, just be-low the shoulder blades to force the substance from the airway. (Force of tapping should be no more than that that of fingertips lightly drumming a tabletop). Fluid in the nasal passages should be cleared by applying gentle pressure with a cotton swab on the nasal passages just below the eye and down the bridge of the noise. Wipe away any fluid that is expelled from the nose, and repeat the process until the nose is clear. Normal respiration will sometimes be restored immediately. However, if liquids or food enters the lungs, the bat is likely to develop aspiration pneumonia. Signs of respiratory distress include soft squeaky, wheezy, or rattling sounds with each breath, often audible even without a stethoscope. After feeding, the face and body Page 73
should be gently wiped clean. Use soft make-up sponges or gauze pads dampened with warm water for this purpose. Be extremely gentle when wiping the faces of pups. Avoid using so much pressure that the pup’s head moves with the gauze or sponge. In other words, the pup’s head should remain stationary as its face is being wiped cleaned. In addition to causing discomfort to the pup, too-aggressive cleaning may damage tissue or force food particles into the pelage (hair/fur), resulting in skin infection, lesions or damage to the hair folicle so the pup is hairless in that area when he grows up. Never put a pup away with milk on its face or body. Doing so will result in eye infections and/or skin infections that may result in death. You must make sure your pup is scrupulously clean as hair folicles will not develop where milk has been left on skin causing bald spots on the microbat– you can clean with an ear cleaner dipped in warm water and dry off with a clean cloth. Bat pups will need to be stimulated to initiate urination and defecation. Cotton swabs are too rough for this purpose. Instead, use the corner of a gauze pad that has been dipped in warm water to gently flick the pup’s anus and genitals. Use only the corner to softly flick the area. Flick repeatedly until the pup urinates or Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
defecates. Microbat pups should be stimulated after each feeding with a soft make-up sponge to en-courage urination/defecation. If not stimulated, pups tend to urinate and defecate on themselves, which, if not cleaned and dried immediately, is likely to cause hypothermia and death. Be careful not to contaminate the oral or nasal cavities with faecal material by touching the face with the same sponge used to stimulate urination and defecation. This can result in serious bacterial infection from Providencia rettgeri, resulting in a build-up of fluid in the thoracic cavity and subsequent death. Also be sure to keep wing tips free of feaces to prevent fungal infection. If wing tips An orphaned big brown pup lapping milk formula from a cannula. E. fuscus. Photo by D. Wilkins
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become soiled, gently clean with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. (Fungal infections will cause wing tips to become discolored and oily in appearance. This condition is very painful and should be treated with daily applications of Nolvasan suspension.) Some microbat pups are just too small and will need to be fed through a canula tube – a recommended method is to create a bubble at the end of the tube so the pup can lick it – do not drip, thus the pup accepts a drop-bydrop method of feeding. Remember to make sure you hold the baby upside down. This is extremely important because infants are likely to aspirate
fluid into the lungs when learning to lap formula if the head is not kept lower than the rest of the body. Placing a small amount of warm formula onto the pup’s mouth typically induces a lapping response. Continue to dispense the formula drop-by-drop as the pup drinks. Pups that do not readily lap milk should be allowed to nurse from foam tips There are have many varieties of Microbat in Australia, some are Eastern horseshoe Microbat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus), The Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio), Eastern Freetail Bat, Northern long eared bat (Nyctophilus bifax), The Southern Forest Bat (Vespadelus regulus), Diadem leaf-nosed bat
The Lesser Long-Eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) found only in Australia including Tasmania. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson – Tolga Bat Hospital
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Eastern horseshoe Microbat (Rhinolophus megaphyllus) Photo credit Ashleigh Johnson – Tolga Bat Hospital
Eastern Freetail Bat Photo by Pamela Dury – Tolga Bat Hospital
The Chocolate Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus morio) is found only in Australia including Tasmania
Northern long eared bat - (Nyctophilus bifax) by Ashleigh Johnson – Tolga Bat Hospital
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The Southern Forest Bat (Vespadelus regulus) It is found only in Australia. It is endemic to the southern parts of Australia. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson -Tolga Bat Hospital
Gould's Wattled Microbat Photo by Michael J Barritt
Diadem leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros diadema) is a large micro weighing around 40g – Photo by Ashleigh Johnson - Tolga Bat Hospital
The Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus) It is found only in South-eastern Australia including Tasmania. It is a tiny bat often weighing less than 3g. Photo by Narelle Power
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(Hipposideros diadema), The Little Forest Bat (Vespadelus vulturnus), Southern Freetail Bat. Some Microbat species will not lap liquids. It is critical that milk be offered to these pups through soft foam sponges. Natural or white foam eye-shadow applicator tips are used for this purpose. Remove the foam tip from the plastic wand by immersing the wand in hot water to loosen the foam from the plastic wand, then slide the foam tip off the wand. The foam tip has a seam that runs along the entire edge of the tip. While the tip is still wet, tear the tip in half along the seam to form two matching halves. Use small scissors to cut the tip of the foam into a wedge shape. This size and shape is readily accepted by bat pups. When nursing from foam tips, pups should be placed abdomen down on a heated surface to keep them warm. Heating pads can be utilized for this purpose. The medium setting appears to be the most comfortable. There should be two layers of cloth between the pup and the heating pad to prevent thermal burn. Fold a clean, absorbent cloth on top of the pad to absorb excess formula during each feeding. Allow the cloth to warm before placing the pup into the folds for feeding. Cover the pup’s body with the cloth, leaving only the head
Southern Free tail Bat – Photo by Mary Crichton Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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VIDEO LINK If you didn't see the video at the beginning of this article then you should view it now as it will show you how to place the foam tip in the pup’s mouth and how to feed and clean it afterwards.
CLICK HERE www.youtube.com/user/BatWorldSanctuary
A: Foam eye shadow applicators available at cosmetic stores
1. A foam tip removed from the wand and slightly separated at the seam. 2. the foam tip torn in half at the seam. 3. The tip has been trimmed to resemble a wedge shape.
The prongs must be buried in the foam to protect the pup’s mouth as the tip is introduced. Photos by A. Lollar. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
exposed. Use a clean, dry cloth for each feeding. Begin by positioning the forceps on the foam so that the prongs are somewhat buried in the foam. This protects the pups mouth. Dip the foam tip into warmed formula. The tip should remain in the formula for several seconds to absorb heat. Remove excess formula by dabbing the tip on a paper towel. Excess formula on foam tips can cause choking or be uncomfortable to the pup. Test the temperature of the tip against the inside of the wrist. Position the index finger on one side of the pup’s face, and the thumb on the opposite side. While gently immobilizing the pup’s head, use the other hand to dip the foam tip into the formula. Encourage the pup to take the tip by gently lifting the pup’s head, which usually causes the pup to open its mouth. If the pup does not open its mouth, use the foam tip to very gently push the lower jaw down while sliding the tip into the mouth. Making soft clicking sounds during this process. Soft clicking mimics the directive calls some mother bats and pups use to locate each other. Most pups will
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We drip hot milk onto the sponge they are sucking . Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
Bat Custard (after A. Loller, recipe adapted for Australian products by D. Pinson)
1 egg (raw) 1 jar baby food – potato, pumpkin & beef 1 jar baby food – banana custard 8 drops multivitamins (e.g. Pentavite)
Thanks to Batchatter Newsletter - to subscribe email: newsletter@bats.org.au www.bats.org.au
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either begin nursing, or at least swallow some of the formula. The tragus (a small pointed eminence of the outer ear) will move up and down slightly each time the pup swallows.)When the pup begins to nurse, release the forceps from the sponge tip as the pup will keep it clamped between its teeth. As the pup continues to nurse, warm formula can be added to the tip one drop at a time. Be careful to drop the formula onto the portion of the foam tip that is furthest from the pup’s face, so that any excess milk formula drips away from the infant. Some pups are difficult to feed and will spit the foam tip out of their
Microbat pups nursing from foam tips. E. fuscus. Bat World facility. Photo by A. Lollar
Some pups will not release the tip straight after a feed – do not be concerned they usually will release the foam tip when returned back to the incubator. Photo by Ashleigh Johnson
A row of orphaned free-tailed pups nursing from foam tips. T. brasiliensis. Photo by R. Myers. Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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mouth. Some will swallow a few drops of formula but will not begin sucking. These pups will eventually start nursing once they overcome initial fear of the handler. Some pups will discard the foam tip as soon as they are full; others will hang onto the tip even after they have stopped drinking milk. Do not try to remove the tip from a pup’s mouth. Any remaining formula in the tip may be accidentally forced down the pup’s throat, causing it to aspirate. These pups will eventually discard the tip after being returned to the incubator. Foam nursing tips should be disposed of after use and replaced with new ones for each feeding.
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It is important to note that when some pups are first handled, they will immediately grasp the cloth or fabric that encloses them with their milk teeth, refusing to let go. Do not attempt to remove the pup’s teeth from the fabric. Instead, carefully dispense warmed formula onto the cloth just below the pup’s mouth and allow the pup to suck the formula from the fabric. Caring for large numbers of orphaned pups requires some modifications in care procedures. Over the course of several days, some pups can be conditioned to being fed in groups. Pups can be taught to lick sea sponges filled with milk – get a shallow dish put in a milk drenched sea sponge so they are only licking. Once a group has been individually taught to lick formula from a sea sponge, they can be fed in groups on top of a heating pad. This is also a great way to give water to microbats. When feeding pups from foam tips, each pup should be nursing from its tip and covered before the next pup is placed into position. Juveniles may be fed 0.5 to 1.0ml of the soft food diet per feeding and should be fed every 8 to 12 hours (two to three times per day). At three to six weeks of age juveniles can typically be allowed to eat as many mealworms or as much of the soft food diet as they will accept at each feeding, although Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
small species (adult weight less than 10g) should not be allowed to eat more than 0.75ml per feeding, and mediumsized species (adult weight 10g to 20g) should not be allowed to eat more than 1.0ml per feeding. Because wild juvenile bats are still nursing while learning to forage for insects, milk formula should be offered after each feeding of mealworms or soft food. Juveniles readily accept soft food or mealworms when they have reached the appropriate developmental stage. Juveniles that refuse mealworms or soft food are not ready to be weaned and should not be forced to do so, regardless of their age or the fact that they may be adult sized. It is not unusual for adult-sized bats to continue drinking milk formulas, particularly if they have been nutritionally deprived as orphans. Juvenile bats sometimes accept mealworms or soft food initially, then attempt to “suck” on the syringe or the mealworm, or refuse the food entirely. These bats should be allowed to return to nursing from a tip, or lapping milk formula from a syringe or medicine dropper, for another week or two, at which time mealworms or soft food can again be offered. Juvenile bats that are ready to be weaned entirely will no longer accept milk formula. HOUSING MICROBAT PUPS Unfurred infants require warm
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temperatures and high humidity and are best housed in a humdicrib, if not available they should be housed in humidity chambers. A heating pad should be attached to the top and sides of the cage for additional warmth. Infant bats should be placed in a pouch positioned close to a heat source. Be sure to leave at least two of the walls of the cage clear of the heating pad so that infants can move away from the heat source if needed. A thermometer should be placed inside the cage and close to the heat source to monitor the internal temperature at all times. Heating pads can be adjusted and added or removed according to the temperature reading inside.
Appropriate temperatures for many species of bat pups are 32° to 37.7° Celsius and appropriate humidity levels range from 70% to 90%. Handraised pups should be moved into full-sized flight cages with padded floors by six to eight weeks of age to ensure development of proper flight ability. Dome tents are fabulous for housing Microbats as you can set them up indoors and they are escape-free. As mentioned earlier, microbat pups should be stimulated after each feeding with a soft make-up sponge to en-courage urination/defecation. If not stimulated, pups tend to urinate and defecate on themselves, which, if
Gould eating Mealworm – Photo by Mary Crichton Page 80
Gould eating mealworm. Notice this microbat is only sucking on this mealworm, he is not ready for them – he was put back to soft foods for a while longer. Photo by Mary Crichton
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Housing for Microbats in care. Photo by Mary Crichton
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not cleaned and dried immediately, is likely to cause hypothermia and death. Be careful not to contaminate the oral or nasal cavities with faecal material by touching the face with the same sponge used to stimulate urination and defecation. This can result in serious bacterial infection from Providencia rettgeri, resulting in a build-up of fluid in the thoracic cavity and subsequent death. Also be sure to keep wing tips free of feaces to prevent fungal infection. If wing tips become soiled, gently clean with warm
water and dry with a soft cloth. (Fungal infections will cause wing tips to become discolored and oily in appearance. This condition is very painful and should be treated with daily applications of Nolvasan suspension.) COMPLICATIONS IN HAND RAISED PUPS Bloat Bloat is one of the most common causes of death in bat pups. It can be recognised by severe abdominal
Outside housing for Microbats in care. Photo by Mary Crichton
Microbats do very well in tent like structures (dome tents ) you can set them up securely under cover. Photo by Mary Crichton Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
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Lack of Beneficial Bacteria The absence of beneficial organisms that normally reside in a healthy pup’s intestinal tract can cause bloat. Absence of beneficial flora allows other organisms to grow out of control, resulting in a build-up of intestinal gas. Probiotics may encourage growth of beneficial bacteria. To treat this condition, add 1/16 teaspoon Primadophilus powder (or another high quality beneficial flora product) to 3.5 ounces of milk formula. Continue adding probiotics until abdominal distention is relieved.
kept well hydrated. For pups one day to two weeks old, mix three parts milk to one part soft food. Pups two weeks and older should receive a mixture of one part milk to one part soft food. If improvement is observed, continue to feed the milk formula/soft food mixture until the pup has reached juvenile stage, at which time mealworms can be introduced. If no improvement is observed within 48 hours, administer 0.01ml diuretic orally(check with vet for best type in your state). The diuretic will help to eliminate excess fluid. If no improvement is observed within another 12 hours, administer a second dose of Diuretic. Frequent, smaller feedings are also sometimes helpful in treating this condition, as well as the addition of probiotics such as Primadophilus powder.
Malnutrition Bloat from malnutrition, called hypoproteinemia, can be caused by decreased protein absorption, which causes the abdomen to fill with fluids. Proteins provide osmotic pressure in the blood and help in the retention of fluid. A decrease in protein creates decreased osmotic pressure, and fluids are therefore not retained within the capillaries and instead migrate to the abdominal cavity (ascites) and appears as distension of the abdomen. Pups with this condition must be
Gastric Torsion Torsion of the stomach or intestines is life-threatening. The condition involves twisting of the stomach or the intestines, which causes the abdomen to expand with trapped air and gas. The etiology of this condition is not fully understood, although birth anomalies may be the cause. Trapped air can be manually removed using a 27 guage needle that is not attached to a syringe, which will allow air to escape the instant the needle is inserted. Unfortunately, this
distention and, sometimes, the presence of bubbles in the digestive tract that are visible through the translucent skin of the abdomen. There are several reasons why this condition occurs in bat pups.
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A juvenile big brown bat with MBD. E. fuscus. Photo by D. Kinamon.
will only offer temporary relief. Due of the nature of the condition, the stomach will again fill with air in a matter of hours. Surgery for this condition is typically not successful due to the propensity of the twist to reoccur, therefore, euthanasia is recommended. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) MBD that results from Vitamin D deficiency is called rickets in young
individuals and osteomalacia in adults. MBD can also be caused by an inadequate intake or absorption of calcium. Vitamin D and fat are important dietary components because they facilitate calcium uptake. Orphaned pups that have survived for a number of days without sustenance or that have been fed inappropriate diets are likely to develop growth abnormalities; however, these can be avoided if Page 84
proper nutrition is provided. Rapidly growing bones like the long bones of the arm are often affected by nutritional imbalances such as MBD. Common clinical signs associated with MBD include swelling or curvature of the long bones of the wing, inflammation of the joints, muscle weakness, and neuromuscular hyperirritability often progressing to tetanic spasms and sometimes convulsions. The condition is painful. In severe cases, a bat will rest with its wings slightly extended at all times and may experience intermittent spasms of the wings in particular. Pups with MBD will sometimes cry out when touched. While mild cases may be reversible in early stages, MBD cannot be reversed in later stages when curvature of the bone is visible. For pups exhibiting symptoms as described above, administer Calsorb orally once a day until symptoms subside. (This medication should be mixed with a small amount of honey as it is very bitter.) Also add 1 gram (1/4 tsp) calcium carbonate to every 3.5 ounces of Wombaroo’s bat milk replacement. For juveniles, add 1 gram (1/4 tsp) to every 3mls of soft food diet. Metacam® should also be administered for pain. OTHER COMPLICATIONS Injuries Pups become injured for a variety Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
of reasons in the wild, including bird attacks, falling from roosts, and from being bitten by adult bats. Because the bones of a pup are relatively soft, a simple fracture often needs little intervention as the fracture will mend and straighten as the pup grows. Severely infected wings may require amputation. Most insectivorous bat pups respond extremely well to an amputation, both physically and psychologically. Release Microbats should be released within 5km from where they are found CARING FOR GERIATRIC BATS Some species of bats have been successfully maintained in captivity for long periods of time. Old bats often have worn teeth, and their fur may turn gray or white. The joints of the fingers, ankles and knees may enlarge, possibly from swelling due to arthritis. These bats lose the ability to fly and often move very slowly. In captivity, older bats are sometimes chased or crowded from roosting pouches and feeding trays by younger, more rambunctious roostmates. In order to protect these bats, it is best if they are caged with other geriatric bats, or other passive individuals. Roosting pouches, food and water trays should be placed within easy reach of older bats, and
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Chocolate Wattled Microbat Colony – Photo by Ashleigh Johnson Page 85
Lesser Long Eared Microbat Colony – Courtesy of the Tothill Family from McLaren Vale SA
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Taste the difference It’s no surprise the majority of people want an alternative to drinking tap water. Everyone wants water that tastes better. Water that is good for them and they can drink every day, supplying the water the body needs. An elderly pallid bat expecting her daily treat of mealworm viscera. This bat stays in a modified roost made of foam which sits on the cage floor, with her food and water dish is in close proximity. A blue surgical towel covers the bottom of the roost and is changed daily. A. pallidus. Bat World facility. Photo by A. Lollar.
should be placed in the same position each day. These bats do not require diversity, and in fact are likely to become injured if anything in their living space is not where they have come to expect it to be. Enrichment can be provided by hand-feeding special treats such as mealworm and waxworm viscera, and gentle grooming. Feeding requirements may also change for some geriatric bats. That is, they may require more frequent feedings of smaller quantities. Most older bats will be on the complete soft food diet because their teeth will eventually become so worn that they Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
will not be able to chew solid foods. These bats may need to be fed small quantities three times a day. Some geriatric bats will also have difficulty grooming. It is therefore important that they are kept clean and brushed with an interdental brush on a daily basis. Thanks to www.batworld.org and Standards and Medical Management for Captive Insectivorous Bats by Amanda Lollar. (Edited) A big thank you to: Gerardine Hawkins of Wildlife Rescue Southcoast Inc www.wildlife-rescue.org.au Jenny Maclean from Tolga Bat Hospital www.tolgabathospital.org/ Ashleigh Johnson from Tolga Bat Hospital www.tolgabathospital.org/
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www.mintonfarm.com.au 08 8270 1169
F.O.C. Bonorong Sanctuary's Friends of Carers Program www.bonorong.com.au 03 6268 1184
Bruce Bain
Photography
Burston Blue Teats
Janet Flinn
dollar.downs@bigpond.com
Wildlife Artist www.janetflinn.com
Order your business cards here
Fauna First Aid www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com Tas Wildlife Rescue Magazine
www.nativeanimalrescue.org.au
Silicon Teats - Order Today! anmacropod@bigpond.com www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com
www.wildart.com liz@wildart.com 0409 935 135
Native Animal Rescue Oakview Nature Refuge
http://brucebainphotography.com.au
Elizabeth Cogley Australian Wildlife Artist
Natural History Artist
www.fawna.com.au ) 2 &«SURWHFWLQJ 7DVPDQLD·V :LOGOLIH
support wildlife carers see ad page 4
ROBIN WINGRAVE
Fawna WA onoron
www.outdoorcameras.com.au 1300 544 249
Kangaroo Footprints www.kangaroofootprints.com.au
Kimberley Wildlife Rescue kimberleywildlife@westnet.com.au 08 9189 1229
La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary nestboxes@latrobe.edu.au 03 9479 1206
www.wildliferescuemagazine.com
April 2012
v1n3
Click the website URL in any sponsor’s classified listing to be taken directly to that sponsor’s website for more information!
Professional Trapping Supplies www.traps.com.au 07 5502 9761
Reptile Rescue www.snakehandlingequipment.com
Rescued Book www.fauna.org.au/Rescued.htm
www.robinwingrave.com 03 6334 9261
Southern Wildlife www.southernwildlife.org
Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park www.tasmaniandevilpark.com
Tasmanian Wildlife Postcards see ad on page 90
Tasmania Zoo Phone: 03 6396 6100 www.tasmaniazoo.com.au
Tolga Bat Hospital Atherton Tablelands Queensland www.tolgabathospital.org
Trowunna Wildlife Park
www.trowunna.com.au 03 6363 6162
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