If you have found an injured or grounded bat or need practical advice regarding bats call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228.

They aim to answer all calls to the helpline during office hours and until 10pm in the summer, but it is a free service run entirely by volunteers and at busy times your call might not be answered. Please persevere unless the helpline is closed, in which case you could take the bat to a vet.

Our local Berkshire helpline is unavailable until 26 September 2023.

Any grounded bat will almost certainly need help. If you are awaiting a response and you feel it would be better for the bat to be moved somewhere safe you can help us by following this procedure:

  • Locate a box (a shoe box is ideal) and make sure that it has holes for air, but no gaps big enough for the bat to crawl through (if your finger fits, so does a bat!).

  • Put a small towel or piece of cloth in the box for the bat to shelter in.

  • Wear gloves and then take the box to the bat, carefully encouraging it in with the edge of your gloved hand. (It may be possible to lift the item the bat is resting on, into the box first).

  • Place the box and the bat in a quiet room, out of reach of pets.

  • Provide water by putting a small container in the box (ideally a plastic milk bottle cap) with a well-dampened piece of kitchen roll inside.

  • There is no need to provide food at this stage.

We will be in touch as soon as possible with further guidance or to collect the bat for further care.

If you have any concerns about bats in your house or are planning work which may affect a bat roost please contact the Bat Conservation Trust on 0345 1300 228, who carry out all the licencing checks for Natural England (the licencing body) or check out the websites www.bats.org.uk or www.naturalengland.org.uk for free advice.

Initially, you should stop work then contact Bat Conservation Trust on 0345 1300 228 for free advice.