Microbats and Fans

Microbats become active during the night and hunt insects, that’s when they are in danger of hitting a fan. Most of these encounters are fatal.

Microbats are the best mosquito catcher and can catch up to 800 in a night. There are here species of microbats in Australia and more than 20 in the Top End. Most people have never seen these animals close-up, as most of them weight less than 10g, are very quick and night active.

Unfortunately one of the main reason why we see them in our clinic are fans. If you sit outside in the evening or night and have a light on a a fan going, chances are high you might attract mosquitoes and therefore also microbats.

Here you can see a microbat which is prepared for an xray. Both wings are carefully secured to the xray plate. Luckily this little fellow had no broken bones. He stayed in the clinic for 24hours for observation and was released back in the same area where he was found.