Hey, you saw some bats in the city AND you wanna tell us about it?! Awesome! If you are reporting bats in flight, let's first double-check that you're seeing bats and not birds (easier to confuse than you think). Bats are typically smaller than birds and have a more erratic flight style (i.e. they're not very graceful).
- Is the animal capable of soaring without flapping its wings for brief periods? Would you describe its movements as steady or graceful? If you answered yes to one or both of these, you are probably observing a bird
- Is the animal constantly flapping its wings? Is it moving in a bouncy, zig zag-like pattern? If you answered yes to both of these, you are probably observing a bat
If you are observing a roosting bat or a bat on the ground, please:
- DO NOT get too close to the bat, it will stress both of you out. A respectful distance of at least 6 ft (~2 M) is recommended.
- DO NOT touch the bat. Seriously, don't. We love bats and you probably do too, but the risk of getting bit is too great for all involved. If the bat is on the ground and you want to help rescue it, please see our page on how to help injured bats.
