02/08/2026
🦇 Meet a Small-Footed Bat! 🦇
Captured 1/23/26 — a first for both Centre Wildlife Care and WIN!
On a bitter cold winter evening, WIN volunteers Jane (RVS C&T) and Mike answered a 7 PM call that had them driving 50 minutes away through nasty weather to Altoona, PA. A Martin’s store customer had spotted a tiny bat wedged high into the brick exterior near the entrance.
Huge thanks to Monica and the store staff, who kept eyes on the bat and even had a ladder ready when our volunteers arrived 👏
The bat had wedged its teeny tiny t***y into a very tight corner, and in the cold, the challenge was gently easing this extra-small creature out without injury. After some careful maneuvering — success! One tiny squeak, a flash of teeny tiny fangs, and proof of teeny tiny life 💚 The bat was carefully bundled and transported to Centre Wildlife Care, who graciously accepted the late-night arrival.
Once there, sharp-eyed CWC supervisor Celia suspected this wasn’t a little brown bat at all — but a small-footed bat, one of the smallest and rarest bat species in North America! Bat experts later confirmed it.
From Centre Wildlife Care:
“When it arrived it was dehydrated and emaciated. We were able to get it eating on its own and gaining weight. It weighed 4.2 grams on arrival and is now up to 4.6 grams. A teaspoon of water weighs 5 grams… so it is an itty bitty bat.”
Tiny, tough, and absolutely worth the trip.💚 Thank you to everyone who made this rescue possible.
📸 Photos by Celia, used with permission
