ABOUT BAT CONSERVATION AND RESCUE QLD
Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld
is a registered not-for-profit volunteer organization that strives to help people understand the importance
of all bat species, to provide a prompt and humane rescue service, to raise orphans and to rehabilitate injured bats before returning them to the wild.
BCRQ offers this free 24/7 community service all year round including public holidays.
I HAVE FOUND A BAT
SEEK HELP – PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH BATS!
CALL OUR RESCUE HOTLINE ON 0488 228 134
If a bat bites or scratches a human, it may have to be destroyed and sent for testing for Australian Bat Lyssavirus – do not risk the bat’s life or your health. Only people trained and Rabies vaccinated should handle bats.
A flying-fox hanging on overhead power lines may still be alive. Even if dead, it may be a mother with a live baby tucked up under her wing. Please call BCRQ immediately.
If you find a flying-fox caught on a barbed wire fence, please very carefully and without touching it, throw a towel over the bat to help keep it calm. Then call BCRQ immediately.
If you find a flying-fox caught in fruit tree netting, do not try and cut the bat out of the net but call BCRQ immediately.
If the bat is on the ground, please cover the bat with a cardboard box or a washing basket to contain it and call BCRQ immediately.
Any bat by itself through the day is in trouble.
Keep children and pets away from the bat to help minimise its stress and remember, NO TOUCH NO RISK!
HOW YOU CAN HELP
BECOME A MEMBER
Join as an active or associate member. BCRQ offers free training to members.
MAKE A DONATION
Donate via GoGive, Bank Transfer or PayPal.
All donations of $2.00 and over are tax deductible.
Nath had some sort of mishap that left him stranded 10m high in a tree in a suburban garden. He was very lucky to be spotted. Thanks so much to the caring resident for calling to get him help. It took many attempts to catch Nath in a net. While he couldn’t fly, he could climb away each time the net approached. Thanks to the wildlife vet team at RSPCA QLD for checking him over. Nath has no serious issues and is now recuperating in a flight aviary, rebuilding his strength and regaining the weight he’d lost. Here he is discovering the delight that is mango!![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Velázquez is a young black flying fox who’s about four months old. She was out foraging one night when she went for a drink in a backyard swimming pool, didn’t see the glass pool fence, flew into it and ended up in the water. This pool is right on the Brisbane River and Velázquez is one of many youngsters who’ve perhaps mistaken the pool water for the river and ended up in this pool. Our sincere thanks to the owners who call us each time. Here she is enjoying some yummy smoothie on the day of her rescue. Thankfully Velázquez is largely uninjured and will be ready for release pretty soon.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
This tiny dot went to creche yesterday! Mr Minter Sage was born considerably premature and was too weak to hang on to his mum. He was lucky to be spotted amongst dry leaf litter under a tree. Mr Sage has done amazingly well, going from 46g to 426g (1.6oz to 15oz) in five months. Soon he’ll be flying free back in the wild, right where he belongs.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
When Alex took his dog outside for a wee walk one evening, he didn’t expect to see a flying fox crash land into the pool! We’re still not sure what happened to beautiful older gentleman Billy but from piecing together what Alex witnessed we think he may have been set off course by a collision, possibly on the way to belly dip in the pool for a drink.![]()
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Thanks to Alex and his mum’s quick thinking they called for help and were able to pop a basket over Billy when he got out of the pool. This made the job of getting him rescued very easy.![]()
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Billy had been a bit accident-prone even before the misadventure of this night. He has a scar on his shoulder from an old wound, a sore toe, some holes in his wing membrane, which are well on the way to healing, and can you see the piece missing out of his left ear?![]()
He's had a check over by the lovely wildlife vet team at RSPCA QLD and got the all clear to have some R&R with one of our carers until he’s in great shape again and ready for the wild. Here he is enjoying some tasty papaw.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
The sweet nectar of eucalypt blossom is irresistible to flying-foxes. You can see how much our little pollinators love to party in it!![]()
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This Sunday 22nd March Brisbane City Council’s “GumFest” (an annual event celebrating National Eucalypt Day) will be held. We invite our local followers to come along to a fantastic program of walks, talks and activities showcasing Australia’s magnificent gum species and the wildlife they support. Visit our display stand and say hello to two education flying-foxes!![]()
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WHEN: Sunday 22 March 2026 - 10am to 3pm ![]()
WHERE: Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Cooth-tha, Toowong![]()
ENTRY: Free ![]()
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No bookings required, but please register your interest by reserving tickets via Eventbrite. ![]()
www.eventbrite.com.au/e/gumfest-2026-brisbane-botanic-gardens-mount-coot-tha-tickets-198215038716...![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Titian, Sia and Manet are all adult black flying fox girls who were rescued in January suffering from Flying Fox Paralysis Syndrome (FFPS). You’ve met Sia before.![]()
Poor Manet had burns to one wing as well as FFPS. We think they’re from fireworks.![]()
And Titian had some dental issues. Huge thank you to the wildlife vet team at RSPCA QLD for treating her teeth.![]()
All three girls are recovering well although they’ll be in care for some time yet as they continue to gain weight and rebuild their strength.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Young Gary was out foraging one night when he became stuck in the rigging of a beached sailing vessel. ![]()
It was very high and difficult to access, but that didn’t stop some caring and resourceful local residents from helping. Another group that we work with, Wildlife Rescue Queensland, was putting plans in place for this challenging rescue, when these amazing people were able to free Gary themselves. They used a ladder and a pole to ease the wire away from him. Once free, Gary attempted to fly but only managed to glide down to the beach. These heroes then popped a box over him to keep him safe til he could be transported to Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. He had treatment there – thank you! – and is now continuing his recovery with one of our carers. He has grazes on both wings and his chin and all are healing beautifully.![]()
Gary is around four months old and you can see how small he looks next to a fully grown adult male black flying fox.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Noosa Golf Club has been in the news for the tragedy of many dozens of flying foxes caught in their driving nets. A Brisbane golf club has the same issue, on a smaller scale. This club has three nets that are each 25m high with fig and other trees attractive to flying foxes between them.![]()
It was a disaster waiting to happen and we’re disappointed an ecologist wasn’t consulted in the planning stages.![]()
We’ve been called to this club six times in the last few months for eight bats. The survival rate has been sadly low.![]()
Three of our intrepid members have taken turns to go up in the spider lift to rescue each bat. Huge thanks to a neighbour of the golf course who checks the nets daily and calls us, as well as the club. Thanks also to the club who are arranging for reflectors to be installed on the nets to make them visible to nocturnal wildlife.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
You wouldn’t expect flying foxes to be at risk from discarded fishing line, yet entanglements like this are surprisingly common. Flying foxes drink by “belly dipping,” skimming low over water as they fly. Little Dory was likely caught during one of these night-time passes.![]()
Luckily for her, a caring local resident noticed Dory hanging over the river in distress and called BCRQ for help. She’s now resting up in care and will be released back into the wild once she is fully recovered.![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.
Damo was rescued from entanglement in a pandanus palm 4 metres above the ground, with braided fishing line tightly constricting four of his toes. He settled very well into care while his injuries healed, happily munching his way through large quantities of fruit and politely taking his medication (disguised in mango juice). ![]()
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It is currently mating season for black flying-foxes, when adult males produce a distinctive vinegary smell. Weighing 908gms (approx. 2lbs), big handsome Damo is in his prime - and he is particularly pungent!![]()
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Opening every door and window in his carer’s house did not diminish Damo’s eye-watering fragrance, so he was evicted from the ‘bat room’ to complete his recovery outdoors. His (apparently) alluring aroma wafted around the backyard, attracting passing bats to circle around or land on the aviary every night. We did not manage to capture Damo’s huge victory lap on video when he was released, but he was clearly very keen to make up for lost time with the ladies! ![]()
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If you see a bat on its own in the daytime, it needs help. PLEASE DON’T TOUCH THE BAT and give us a call immediately on 0488 228 134 for Brisbane and surrounds, or your local wildlife rescue in other regions.