THE CAMPAIGN HAS ENDED- THANK YOU EVERYONE!

The Bats In Need campaign has ended, and on behalf of the bats- thank you to everyone who has been involved. IF you're finding us after the campaign has closed, it's not too late to help out! You can still donate to us via paypal!

Also remember to check out the three organisations which Bats In Need funds have gone to benefit:

Wildlife Rescue South Coast

Wildlife ARC

WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue Organisation

WE DOUBLED OUR GOAL! Now what?

Our second stretch goal is to hit $6500. 

As of January 17th another few days of high heat index with low humidity have occurred and more bats are being effected. Bomaderry Creek is once again losing bats, as are a number of other colonies including Emu Plains, Parramatta, Centennial Park, and there are a number of colonies that rescuers have been blocked from accessing safely. More and more bats are being brought in for rehabilitation.

With ONE-WEEK LEFT on the campaign, can we raise an additional $2500? I think so. The rescuers are still bringing in more bats in need of care from these heat-struck colonies, bats which need medication, food, shelter, and care just as much as the bats that came in when we first started. Let's create a nice buffer for going forward, so once this campaign is over future heat rescues are well provided for. I KNOW WE CAN DO IT. 

Goal? Already? WOW! LET'S DOUBLE IT!

Huge thanks to all our supporters so far. I knew we set the goal low when we started. How many people would donate? It's right after the holidays, will people have much to spare? And man, you folk turned out in numbers! Now that we're here and we still have TWO WEEKS TO GO- let's see if we can raise double out goal!

What does doubling our goal do?

• Doubling our goal means we'll be able to help more bats! 
• Doubling our goal means we'll be able to help bats who have been injured by being shot, or getting trapped on barbed wire!
• Doubling our goal means we can support more bat rehab carers!
• Doubling our goal means we all get to feel AMAZING about ourselves too!

Australian Flying Foxes need your help!

Recently, the eastern coast of Australia has been receiving some periods of extended high-heat, in excess of 45 degrees Celcius. Flying foxes are a tropical species. They're used to sustained high temperatures with high humidity, temps which rarely go over 35 degrees C. What they don't cope with is dry heat over 40 degrees for more than one day, which is what has been happening. The video above shows the devestation to just ONE colony of bats as a result of this heat. Colonies in Adelaide, Melbourne, and New South Wales have been the hardest hit so far.

The grim details:

Total count of dead is as yet not complete (and possibly will never be known) – but figures we do know are:

• Adelaide – 100 dead and 2 into care
• Bomaderry – 3000 dead and approximately 100 – into care.
• Central Coast – 70+ into care (just waiting for a confirmation of dead)
• Melbourne – (last report 30+ dead, not sure yet of how many into care)

And the most heart wrenching news so far – one colony that was cut off due to bush fire and even in good time rather inaccessible but was badly affected and no chance of human assistance.

How can you help?

Wildlife rehabilitation volunteers have been working hard to recover any live bats possible from the colonies effected by the heat, and are caring for these sick bats along with many other sick and injured bats caused by shooting, barbed wire, and human interference. 

Your donations will cover the housing, food, medical equipment, and medication for these bats while they recover and until they are able to be released back into the wild. Much of the medical equipment used for the bats is similar to that used on severely dehydrated humans- IV drips, antibiotics, etc. Donated funds will be helping bats in the assistive care of Heat Stress Care Groups at Wildlife Rescue South Coast and Wildlife ARC caring for the Bomaderry Creek victims as well as victims from other heat-stricken colonies, in conjunction with funds raised by the BATSonline group in a raffle set to benefit the Tolga Bat Hospital and Cairns Flying Fox Carers. All of this is being made possible via the help of Stickeebatz Publishing, Lily Wasik, Dave Pinion, and Connie Kerr.

Please check out the gallery for images of some of the available perks.

Also join us for discussion of all things batty in the BATSonline Google Group!