Care and release of microbat pups by Kathryn Davis

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Care and release of microbat pups by
Kathryn Davis

• Feeding and care of juveniles
• Potential survival of orphan pups
• Feeding un-weaned orphan pups
• Feeding orphan pups during weaning
• Feeding weaned orphan pups

• Release of juveniles
• Learning to catch insects on the wing
• Juvenile crèche surrogate mothers
• Flying practice stage 1, 2, and 3
• Soft release

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Potential survival of orphaned microbat pups

• 1. Most pups should be fully furred within 7
  to 10 days, already being weaned
• 2. If a microbat pup is un-furred it must be
  treated as un-weaned
• 3. If a pup is furred, but smaller than an
  adult of that species try it on milk solution
• 4. Pups must be kept warm (not hot) at all
  times
• However, if a pup remains un-furred for more
  than 5 days, it may
• have been rejected by its mother due to a
  congenital problem. The
• pup may appear healthy playing, and eating
  well. Such pups may
• last more than three weeks, before dying
  suddenly.

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Food for un-weaned orphan pups (less than 10
days old) (Feed volumes and frequency are
approximates)

• Food source Use either
• Di-Vetelact adding 1 to 2 drops un-thickened
  fresh cream for richness,
• Wambaroo adding a little more water for volume
  (or some other suitable milk)
• 1. I use a dropper (contains 1mL)
  offering 1 to 3 drops at a time (1 drop
  0.05mL).
• 2. The pup shows when, and how it
  wants to be fed, usually wanting to play
• during feeds.
• 3. Volumes of feed can be estimated from
  above with a total of approx 1mL
• per feed (every 4 to 6 hours).

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Feeding orphaned pups during weaning

• Feeding orphaned pups calcium (Ca) during
  weaning
• Offer milk solution as above, plus, soft worms
  dipped in milk powder!
• This step is vital to maintain calcium (Ca) for
  bone strength.
• Milk powder should also be given to any
  captive mother to supplement
• calcium (Ca) offered in her milk

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Feeding weaned pups

• 1. Continue to add milk powder to food either
  in same dish
• as solid food, or in a separate dish.
• 2. Most microbats (juveniles and adults) eagerly
  accept milk
• powder with food.
• 3. Milk powder maintains protein, vitamin, and
  mineral balance.
• 4. Solid food options moths, mealworms, egg
  custard, uncooked mince
• rolled with raw egg, crickets, other local
  clean insects.

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Release of juvenilesLearning to catch insects
on the wing

• 1. If the juveniles mother is present and is
  releasable then the
• juvenile quickly learns from her to catch
  insects on the wing
• 2. Orphans may learn to catch insects on the
  wing, on their own,
• since there is a high innate component
  involved in this behaviour
• 3. If a captive female gives birth, she may
  adopt other juveniles
• during flying lessons for her own pups

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Juvenile crèche

• 1. Most microbat pups (captive born or orphaned)
  survive long-term
• when fed high calcium supplements during,
  and after weaning
• 2. Orphaned pups may be adopted by
  short-term captive mothers,
• even if from a different species
• 3. Potentially releasable juveniles and adults,
  irrespective of species,
• fly together, and even co-habitat each
  others tank so long as it is their
• choice. You cannot mix species, or have more
  than one male in a tank
• IF THE LID IS KEPT ON. They must be free to
  choose!

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Flying lesson Stage 1 Circular flight path
Mother leads and continues flying whilst
juveniles stop for rests before resuming
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Flying lesson Stage 2 Figure of 8
flight-path1. Juveniles able to fly for longer
periods.2. Juveniles and mother take turns at
lead
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Flying lesson Stage 3 Random direction around
obstaclesMother still shows some control as
leader, choosing path through branches
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Soft release

1. Juvenile microbats form loose social groups
   within a crèche
2. Release programs may involve adult and juvenile
   social groups
3. Both adults and juveniles should be micro-chipped
   with tiny chip inserted under tummy before
   release (Dr Teri Bellamy willing to obtain and
   insert microchips)
4. At release, each bat may be placed in a
   familiar unsealed bag, placed in a typical
   microbat tank on a table under cover, at release
   site.
5. Leave tank closed until late at night. Open top,
   covering loosely with familiar cloth and allow
   microbats to self-release. Provide food and water
   support for at least a week.
6. Micro-chipping would provide scientific data
   regarding survival and migration of released
   microbats (adults and juveniles)
7. Carers would need to check for a micro-chip upon
   microbats coming into care

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Adult microbats brought into care. What are the
options?

1. Adult females from April-June are most likely
   pregnant
2. If a female is unable to be released within a few
   days, what are the options?
3. Release during cool to cold nights? Not an option
   if insects are not available
4. Euthanasia? Rarely, this would result in 3 deaths
   (mum and usual 2 pups)
5. Allow female to give birth in care and release
   all 3 (if mum is releasable) during spring All
   must be housed in appropriately sized flight
   cage/room
6. To maintain healthy mums and bubs add milk powder
   as choice of food, with solids
7. Continue milk powder for mums and pups after
   weaning!
8. Orphaned pups can be taught to fly and catch
   insects on the wing by a mum of different species
   so long as the room is large enough and the
   choice to bond is that of both mum and bubs
9. All may be released together using a
   soft-release program

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Recommendations

• 1. There should be microbat juvenile release
  programs similar to that of Flying-fox juveniles
• If carers are unable to keep adult females
  brought into care PLEASE consider passing them on
  to someone able, and willing, to care for them
• There is NO evidence that keeping a microbat for
  longer than a few weeks will result in imprinting
  (Mormopterus are stubborn and lazy despite length
  in care)
• Care for microbats and Flying-foxes should be
  parallel dont release either in adverse
  conditions. Both respond to personal care without
  hindering release
• Even microbat mothers with one wing missing may
  successfully give birth and look after her pups
  to release stage without adverse effects

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Future research

1. Use of cameras to record juvenile flight
   patterns
2. Sonagrams of mother and pups during development,
   using Anabat detector
3. Radio-tracking of released microbats to confirm
   success of rehabilitation programs