2024 Annual Report - Flipbook - Page 26
Addison McCool
Squishy, a juvenile Mexican free-tail bat, found herself in a very dangerous spot
aver ending up in a trash compactor in Waco, TX. The homeowner spo琀琀ed the
}ny bat si琀�ng on top of the contents in the compactor just before she was
about to press the start bu琀琀on. They safely secured Squishy in a box and contacted Bat World MidCi}es for help.
How she ended up in the compactor is anyone’s guess. Free-tail bats are crevice
dwellers, which means they 昀椀nd their safety hiding in cracks and crevices. The
}ghter the crevice, the safer they feel. Had Squishy buried herself into the contents of the compactor in order to feel safe, she would not have stood a chance.
On arrival, Squishy was thin and dehydrated, but thankfully did not sustain any
injuries from her almost-fatal ordeal. She received an injec}on of warmed electrolytes to combat dehydra}on and a nutri}ous meal as well as temporary green
markings on her ears to indicate to caregivers that she needed to be fed twicedaily.
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Aver a few days of suppor}ve care, Squishy mastered her 昀氀ight skills and was
then released to rejoin her colony. Squishy is now 昀氀ying free,
