Vienna opens state-of-the-art bat facility

The flying animals are a vital part of the city’s ecosystem

Recently, Viennese Climate Councillor Jürgen Czernohorszky visited the city’s wildlife centre for the inauguration of a bat-care facility. Bats are an important part of the urban ecosystem in Vienna, as they serve as pest control and as pollinators for certain plants.

At the same time, they are quite tricky to care for, partially because they are nocturnal. According to a statement by the city, they require a constant temperature and unique accommodations as well as an aviary, where bat babies or freshly recovered animals can regain their flying skills. After their recovery, wildlife authorities set them free, either in a suitable location in the city or a well-suited alternative location.

The city is home to a variety of wildlife

Animal life in Vienna is not only shaped by pets such as dogs and cats, but also by a wide variety of wild animals: from time to time some of them are in need of veterinary assistance and are often found by attentive citizens, who bring them to wildlife authorities.

Now, the facility in Laxemburg (a suburb of Vienna) will have the capacity to both help and nurture bats back to health before they are released back into the wild. The facility will be capable of caring for a variety of local species - the noctule bat, the common pipistrelle, the grey long-eared bat and the white-banded bat.

Bats have very special requirements like the fact they are used to having constant climate conditions in their sleeping quarters and nurseries. The bat facility is approximately 70 square metres and includes two nurseries and breeding areas. Also, there is a separation between animals who are there for just a bit and those who need to stay long-term. The premises can also be used for winter quarters.

Finally, there is a 30 square metre aviary, where young animals can learn to fly and older animals can regain their confidence, before being released into the wild.

Councillor Czernohorszky was quoted in a press release, explaining: "Bats fascinate young and old alike and are an important part of our city ecosystem, so I'm happy that we can now also take care of injured bats!”