How can I help bats?

Avoid the use of pesticides, keep snags (tall tree stumps), plant a bat friendly garden, reduce your carbon footprint, keep your pet cat inside, encourage conservation and restoration efforts, or build or install a bat house to give them a safe place to live. Click here for more details and more ideas! 

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How can I see a wild bat?

Unless you live near the arctic or polar regions it is very likely you have bats living near you and your home! Bats are most active during dawn and dusk. So during the summer, go outside around sunset and just hang out. Look towards the sky, relax, be  patient, and you might be lucky enough to see acrobatic bats flying around and catching bugs! They need to drink water, if you camp out next to a body of water like a lake it will increase your chances of observing a wild bat. Bats like warm weather and are unlikely to be out during rain or heavy winds. 

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What can I do if I know where a group of bats (bat colony) is? 

Please report the colony to your local Fish & Wildlife Department.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/bats

Report by filling out this survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/dda6a0f6a2034c4b997ca108884a5c8c%20

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What do I do if I find a bat (or any wild animal) that is injured or sick?

Do NOT touch ANY wild animal with your bare hands. Contact your local wildlife rescue center before you do anything, they can help guide you in the best way to help. Sometimes they may just need to be left alone, talk to a professional before disturbing a wild animal. Please report to your local Fish & Wildlife Department: https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/bats

Report by filling out this survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/47c26e282e244367b9920249626c666d

What do I do if I find a dead bat? 

Do NOT touch ANY wild animal with your bare hands. Contact your local Fish and Wildlife Department to report the dead bat. 

https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/bats

Report by filling out this survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/47c26e282e244367b9920249626c666d

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What do I do if I find a bat in my home?

Do NOT touch ANY wild animal with your bare hands.

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