Bat On The Ground?

Question

In North Caroline I saw a small bat on the ground, curled up. I took a long stick and started poking it, trying to get it to fly where it would be safe. It started bouncing around, then curled up again. I think it was a fruit bat since it was smaller than my shoe. Anyway, it started hopping to me, going to my shoe, and then hanging on my sock (There were a bunch of young children surrounding it, it may have been scared) . And then it hopped and flew away.

It wasn't being all crazy or anything, when it was hopping I thought it was trying to fly, so I mistook it for being injured/a baby. I did some research and found out that bats flopping on the ground (the bat I was hopping) and saw that they needed to be tested for rabies and were often mistaken for injured animals. I don't know if the bat I found did have it, it really just looked like it was trying to be safe, and it was able to eventually fly.

Does it sound like I was trying to help a rabid animal?

Answer 1

I don't think so. I've seen plenty of bats aground. I don't know why they do it, but they always fly away after a while. Maybe they're just tired, weak or curious.

Still, that bat had a better chance of having rabies than most bats you come across, and it would be best for both you and the bat for you to just leave such bats be...

Answer 2

It could have been rabid...but more likely it just could not get any lift from the ground to take off.  Bats have trouble taking off from the ground.  It may have been a baby that ended up on the ground due to inexperience.  In the future, you should never touch a bat with your bare hands or any vulnerable body parts.  Bats can carry rabies..but it is much rarer than most people think..only aboout 1% or less or all bats have rabies.

Answer 3

It does sound like it was sick or injured, and it wasn't afraid of you, which can be a sign of rabies. Bats are known to be carriers of rabies. Be very careful around bats.