September 22, 2017 1.13 pm This story is over 78 months old

Lucky bat’s miraculous escape after fishing wire mishap in Lincoln

RSPCA inspectors rescued a startled bat who had become tangled in a fishing line and left suspended over a late for days. A passer-by called the RSPCA for help when they saw the small mammal hanging from a hook. It had become tabled in a tree at a fishing lake in Market Rasen Road in…
The lucky bat was rescued by RSPCA inspectors.

RSPCA inspectors rescued a startled bat who had become tangled in a fishing line and left suspended over a late for days.

A passer-by called the RSPCA for help when they saw the small mammal hanging from a hook. It had become tabled in a tree at a fishing lake in Market Rasen Road in Dunholme, Lincoln on Tuesday.

A passer-by called the RSPCA for help when they saw the small mammal hanging from a hook which had become tangled in a tree at a fishing lake in Market Rasen Road in Dunholme, Lincoln, on Tuesday (September 19).

RSPCA inspector Stuart Wainwright went along to rescue the stricken bat and with the help of inspectors Becky Lowe and Dan Bradshaw.

Inspector Wainwright said: “The poor bat was thrashing around and dangling from the fishing line.

“He wasn’t far from the bank and was only hanging about six feet out of the water but he was just out of reach. We needed an inflatable boat to be able to float out there, remove the hook and bring him to safety.

“The trees around the lake are a little unkempt and so I believe someone had cast out their line and it had become caught in a tree.

“They cut the line off the rod but the hook was left dangling from the tree and it managed to trap the poor bat as he flew past. He was caught in the hook by a flap of skin between his back and his foot but amazingly was not injured.

“We were told that the poor bat could have been there for about four days before we were called to rescue him.

“He was a little dehydrated so we gave him some water before he was taken to the animal centre for care.”

The adult common pipistrelle bat was taken to RSPCA Doncaster Animal Home in Bawtry and is now in the care of the Bat Conservation Trust until he can be released back into the wild where he was found.

If you see a bat in need contact the RSPCA’s Emergency Line on 0300 1234 999