Night of the Pool Bat

About a week ago after that evening Mesa got some rain and strong winds (around the end of July 2024), a bat was blown into my pool where it was then collected in the leaf skimmer.  She apparently clung to the side of the skimmer wall all night and I found her the next morning, looking miserable.  She was strong enough to grip a little branch and be lifted out, but not fly.

Taking care of bats is beyond the ability of most people.  Handling them is tricky because of the risk of rabies and listeria; it should really be handled by people with training.  Since she didn't seem to be recovering on her own, I went looking for local experts and found https://www.azbatrescue.org/ 

The above picture is from them.  She was released a day ago after spending about a week being fed and resting.  It looked like there were bat rehab volunteers all over Maricopa county, just in case you run across one that looks like it needs help.  

Remember to not touch it directly!  Wear gloves or use a washcloth or towel to gently handle them.  Keep them someplace safe until you can contact help.