Recently, Texans have come together in a truly heartwarming effort to save more than 1,500 bats from an icy wintery doom.
The effort began at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport where officials noticed a large number of bats had congregated beneath the planes at the airport. At the time, officials feared the bats were huddled together in an attempt to keep warm during a deep freeze. It was then that officials realized the bats were in danger and began the effort to rescue them.
In coordination with local bat conservation groups and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department officials, the Austin Fire Department was able to carefully move the bats onto heated tarps and to nearby facilities. It is estimated that more than 1,500 bats were rescued under the care of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
In an effort to keep them fed and safe during the rescue efforts, the department recruited volunteers to hand feed mealworms to the bats, as well as to monitor the bats’ behavior and temperatures. In a stroke of luck, Austin-area college students were the perfect volunteers, as the weather had led to the cancelation of their classes. Understanding the gravity of the situation, the students made the most of their free time and even gainfully employed their knowledge of biology to help out.
The effort to save the bats was also made possible by well-timed donations from Texas residents and businesses. One nonprofit, Bats in My Belfry, even supplied heated bat boxes and warm bat housing materials.
The rescue efforts have been hugely successful and a true testament to the power of people coming together to help out those in need. We can only hope that more people take note of this inspiring rescue and follow suit when it comes to protecting the environment and our animal friends.