Rescuers take in tiny ‘once-in-a-career’ creature found on a bike path in the UK
When a “kind-hearted” person contacted wildlife rescuers about a “tiny, exhausted bat” on a bike path in the United Kingdom, experts had no idea what they were about to treat.
An assessment of the “little patient” revealed it was a rare barbastelle bat, Secret World Wildlife Rescue said in a Sept. 2 Facebook post.
Barbastelles are medium-sized bats with a distinctive “pug-like” face and large ears, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. They have a wingspan between 10 and 11.4 inches and weigh about as much as a AAA battery.
“These bats are extremely rare, and seeing one up close is a once-in-a-career experience for many of our team,” the group in southern England said.
The bat had flown just a short distance before landing on the ground in front of the passerby, according to experts. Despite the ordeal, the bat’s energy returned, and it showed no signs of injury.
Additional tests will be done to determine why it ended up on the ground during the day, the group said.
“Every day brings new surprises, and sometimes they are truly extraordinary,” rescuers said. “We hope this little one continues to do well and that we can return this rare beauty to the wild before long.”
“Being one of the rarest mammals, much remains to be learned about barbastelles,” according to the Bat Conservation Trust.
Secret World Wildlife Rescue is located in Highbridge.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM with the headline "Rescuers take in tiny ‘once-in-a-career’ creature found on a bike path in the UK."
