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Entry 432Filed under Breeding

Who to Call for an Injured or Grounded Bat

Call a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal services for an injured bat. If a person may have had contact, contact public health; in the UK, call the Bat Conservation Trust at 0345 1300 228.
12-minute read By Animalso Team
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Call a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency for an injured or grounded bat, and do not touch it. If the bat is inside a home or a person may have had contact with it, contact animal control or your local health department in the United States before anyone tries to capture or release it. In the UK, call the Bat Conservation Trust’s National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228. If a person may have been bitten, scratched, or exposed to bat saliva or nervous tissue, seek prompt medical advice and contact public-health officials.

Make the call that fits your location and situation

The right responder depends on where you are and whether anyone—or a pet—may have touched the bat. Keep people and pets away while you arrange help. Do not handle a live or dead bat, even if it appears still or harmless.

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Situation First call Why
Injured or sick bat in the United States, with no known contact A nearby wildlife rehabilitator or local animal-services agency These are the appropriate starting points for advice and possible care. California Department of Fish and Wildlife gives this direction for injured or sick bats; local arrangements vary by jurisdiction.
Bat inside a home, or possible contact with a person, in the United States Animal control or the local health department They can advise about safe capture, testing, and whether a person needs medical assessment. Do not release a bat potentially involved in human exposure before speaking with public-health officials.
Grounded or injured bat in the UK Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline: 0345 1300 228 The helpline advises callers and can connect them with local bat carers. Its care network is volunteer-based, so local availability can vary.
Bat in the UK with suspected rabies or abnormal behavior Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) APHA is the relevant agency for suspected rabies in bats. If anyone was bitten or scratched, also contact a doctor immediately.
Any other country or region Local wildlife authority, licensed wildlife rehabilitator, animal services, or public-health authority There is no single international phone number established for bat rescue or exposure advice.

If you are unsure which local office handles wildlife, call the municipality or regional authority’s general animal-services line and ask to be directed to the wildlife or public-health contact. In the United States, the CDC advises contacting animal control or the health department about safe capture and testing when a bat is in a home or contact may have occurred. California’s wildlife guidance is state-specific; it should not be treated as the rule for every US jurisdiction.

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Think of this as two related call paths rather than one universal hotline. The first is getting help for the animal: a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency may be the starting point for an injured or sick bat. The second is managing a possible exposure: animal control or public health may need to advise on safe capture, testing, and medical follow-up. If you are unsure which path applies, tell the first official you reach both that a bat needs help and whether anyone or any pet could have contacted it.

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What to do while help is being arranged

  1. Keep a safe distance. Move people and pets away from the bat. Do not pick it up, try to examine it, or assume it is safe because it is small, motionless, or appears dead. California Department of Fish and Wildlife advises against handling live or dead bats, and the CDC says to avoid touching bats.
  2. Call the appropriate service and describe the scene. Say where the bat is, whether it is injured or grounded, whether it is indoors or outdoors, and whether anyone or any pet may have touched it. Follow the responder’s directions rather than attempting a capture yourself.
  3. Keep the bat where it is unless officials advise otherwise. If human contact may have occurred, do not release it before speaking with public-health officials. The bat may need to be assessed or tested, and the local authority can explain the safe next step.
  4. Do not improvise handling or transport. The CDC provides capture steps for certain situations, but its guidance also directs people to animal control or the health department for safe capture and testing, and to ask public health for advice if they cannot capture the bat safely. Let local professionals tell you whether and how any action should be taken.

A grounded bat may be injured or sick, and unusual behavior is a reason to ask an agency for advice—not a reason to approach it. If no one answers the first call, try the relevant local animal-services or public-health office, and explain that the animal is a bat and whether there may have been exposure. In the UK, the National Bat Helpline can advise and refer callers to local carers, but a volunteer carer may not be available immediately.

While you wait, avoid moving the bat or inviting others to look closely. Note its location from a distance so you can describe it accurately, and keep the area clear. If it moves or disappears, tell the responder what changed; do not pursue it or try to catch it. If a person may have been exposed, prioritize the public-health or medical call rather than waiting for a wildlife carer to become available.

If a person may have touched the bat

Get prompt medical advice if anyone may have been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to bat saliva or nervous tissue. Contact public-health officials as well, particularly if the bat was in a room with someone who may not know whether contact occurred. Do not wait for symptoms: the CDC notes that bat bites can be tiny and may go unnoticed.

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  • Tell the health professional and public-health official that a bat was involved, where and when the contact may have happened, and whether the bat is still available.
  • If you are uncertain whether contact occurred, say so explicitly rather than deciding on your own that there was no exposure.
  • Do not release a bat potentially involved in human exposure until you have spoken with public health or animal control. Their instructions take priority over general advice.

Being unsure about contact is worth saying plainly. A small bite can be hard to notice, so a person should not dismiss a possible encounter based only on the absence of an obvious mark. Public-health officials and medical professionals can assess the circumstances and explain what to do; this article cannot determine whether a particular encounter was an exposure.

For a bite or scratch in the UK, GOV.UK advises washing the area with soap and water, disinfecting it, and contacting a doctor immediately. The same guidance says to contact APHA about suspected rabies in bats. These UK steps do not replace urgent medical care or the advice of your local health authority.

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If a pet may have contacted the bat

Keep the pet away from the bat and report the possible contact when you call animal control, public health, or the local wildlife authority. Explain what happened and ask which local professional should advise you next. If the pet may have been bitten or mouthed the bat, contact your veterinarian as well; do not try to inspect the bat or your pet in a way that brings you into contact with the animal. Because the relevant public-health and animal-care pathways depend on location, follow the local authority’s directions rather than assuming the same response applies everywhere.

Be specific about what you saw: whether the pet approached, mouthed, or otherwise touched the bat, and whether the bat is still present. Do not handle the bat to establish what happened. A pet’s possible contact does not by itself answer whether a person was exposed, so mention any human contact separately when you call.

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What to tell the responder

A clear, short description helps the right service decide what to do next. You do not need to handle the bat to gather this information.

  • Your town or area, and whether the bat is inside a building or outdoors.
  • Whether it appears injured, grounded, sick, or unusually active, and what you observed from a distance.
  • Whether a person or pet may have touched, been bitten or scratched by, or otherwise contacted it.
  • Whether the bat is still present and whether anyone has already moved or released it.
  • Your callback number and whether you need urgent guidance to keep others away.

If you are calling because a person may have been exposed, lead with that fact rather than presenting it only as a wildlife rescue request. If there is no known contact, say that too. This distinction helps responders route a bat-care call differently from a possible exposure or testing situation.

It can help to have the location and timing ready, especially if the bat was indoors or someone is uncertain about contact. Describe only what you know: for example, “the bat is on the floor in the garage,” “it was found outside,” or “a person woke in a room where the bat was present.” Do not delay an urgent medical or public-health call to collect extra details or photographs.

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Why professional advice matters

Bat rescue and potential rabies exposure are related but distinct concerns. A wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency may be the right starting point for an injured bat, while animal control or public health may need to guide safe capture or testing when a bat was inside a home or contact may have occurred. In the UK, the Bat Conservation Trust’s helpline handles advice and local bat-carer referrals; APHA is the route for suspected rabies.

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Do not judge risk by appearance. A bat that is still, small, or apparently dead should not be handled, and a bite may be difficult to notice. The CDC’s July 1, 2025 guidance says to avoid touching bats and consult animal control or the health department for safe capture and testing. California Department of Fish and Wildlife likewise says not to handle live or dead bats. If there is any uncertainty about contact, make that uncertainty part of the call.

Calling first also avoids relying on generic handling advice that may not fit the situation. The CDC includes capture directions for some circumstances, but it also points people to animal control or the health department for safe capture and testing and recommends public-health advice if the finder cannot capture a bat safely. A local responder can account for exposure concerns and the available referral process. Do not buy equipment or attempt a do-it-yourself capture as a substitute for calling.

When the first number does not solve it

Local referral systems are not identical, and not every wildlife rehabilitator can take every animal. If a service cannot help, ask which local agency handles bats or whether the situation should be referred to animal control, public health, or a licensed rehabilitator. In the UK, the Bat Conservation Trust says its network of local carers is made up of volunteers, so finding an available carer can depend on location and capacity. Outside the UK and US, contact the local wildlife or public-health authority for the correct route; the guidance cited here does not establish a worldwide bat hotline.

If the concern is a person’s possible exposure, do not let an unsuccessful wildlife-rescue call delay medical and public-health advice. If the concern is only the bat’s condition, continue through local animal services or wildlife rehabilitation referrals, keeping everyone away while you wait for instructions.

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Frequently asked questions

Who do I call for a bat on the ground?

For an injured or grounded bat in the United States, start with a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency if there is no known human contact. In the UK, call the Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228. Elsewhere, contact your local wildlife authority, animal services, or a licensed rehabilitator. Keep people and pets away and do not touch the bat.

Should I call animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator?

It depends on the situation and your local system. A wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency may be the right rescue starting point for an injured or sick bat. If the bat is in a home, or someone may have had contact with it, animal control or the local health department in the United States can advise about safe capture and testing. Tell the service about any possible contact so it can direct you to the appropriate pathway.

What is the UK number for an injured bat?

Call the Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228 for advice about a grounded or injured bat in the UK. The helpline can connect callers with local bat carers, but the carers are volunteers and availability can vary. For suspected rabies in a bat, contact APHA; if anyone was bitten or scratched, contact a doctor immediately.

What if I am not sure whether anyone touched the bat?

Say that when you contact medical and public-health officials. Do not decide on your own that there was no exposure just because no bite is visible; the CDC notes that bat bites can be tiny and go unnoticed. Do not release the bat if it may be involved in human exposure until you have spoken with public health or animal control.

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Can I move or release the bat while I wait?

Do not handle it or improvise capture or transport. If there may have been human contact, do not release it before speaking with public-health officials. Call the appropriate local service and follow its instructions; the CDC advises contacting animal control or the health department for safe capture and testing in relevant situations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I call for a bat on the ground?

For an injured or grounded bat in the United States, start with a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency if there is no known human contact. In the UK, call the Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228. Elsewhere, contact your local wildlife authority, animal services, or a licensed rehabilitator. Keep people and pets away and do not touch the bat.

Should I call animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator?

It depends on the situation and your local system. A wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency may be the right rescue starting point for an injured or sick bat. If the bat is in a home, or someone may have had contact with it, animal control or the local health department in the United States can advise about safe capture and testing. Tell the service about any possible contact so it can direct you to the appropriate pathway.

What is the UK number for an injured bat?

Call the Bat Conservation Trust National Bat Helpline at 0345 1300 228 for advice about a grounded or injured bat in the UK. The helpline can connect callers with local bat carers, but the carers are volunteers and availability can vary. For suspected rabies in a bat, contact APHA; if anyone was bitten or scratched, contact a doctor immediately.

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What if I am not sure whether anyone touched the bat?

Say that when you contact medical and public-health officials. Do not decide on your own that there was no exposure just because no bite is visible; the CDC notes that bat bites can be tiny and go unnoticed. Do not release the bat if it may be involved in human exposure until you have spoken with public health or animal control.

Can I move or release the bat while I wait?

Do not handle it or improvise capture or transport. If there may have been human contact, do not release it before speaking with public-health officials. Call the appropriate local service and follow its instructions; the CDC advises contacting animal control or the health department for safe capture and testing in relevant situations.

The Bottom Line

For an injured or grounded bat, call a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-services agency; in the UK, call the Bat Conservation Trust at 0345 1300 228. If a person may have had contact with the bat, contact public-health officials and seek prompt medical advice. Keep people and pets away, do not touch or release the bat, and follow local responders’ instructions.

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