Woman Finds a Tiny Newborn Bat, and the Internet Is Desperate to Save It
Finding an injured bird or abandoned kitten is one thing, but a tiny newborn bat is something most of us have never found in our yards. That's exactly what happened to Jadyn (@jadyn_nicole04) when she discovered a hairless baby bat all alone on her driveway and realized that if it was going to survive, it needed help fast.
The newborn bat, also called a pup, looked like it had just been born, with no fur and its eyes still closed. Jadyn gently placed it on a paper towel while she figured out what to do next. After watching her emotional video, viewers from around the world became deeply invested, offering advice and encouragement, and desperately hoping the tiny pup would pull through.
@jadyn_nicole04 Just call me bat mom
original sound - jadyn_nicole04
Jadyn joked in the caption, "Just call me bat mom," and we're all glad she was willing to take on the responsibility. She's shared a few updates since she found the tiny bat, whom she named Gerard, but hasn't shared one in over a week. We're really hoping he makes it.
Related: Tiny Black Kitten Looks Exactly Like a Baby Bat
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What Should You Do If You Find a Baby Bat?
Now that the entire internet is checking their yards for a baby bat of their own, you might be wondering what to do if you actually find one. Wildlife experts at Bat World Sanctuary say no bat should ever be handled with bare hands because, even at a very young age, they can carry diseases such as rabies. They also note that "many states will euthanize a bat touched with bare hands."
The sanctuary also cautions, "Do NOT attempt to care for the bat on your own. Bats need specialized food and housing, as well as medical treatment. Attempting to care for the bat on your own could jeopardize the health of the bat as well as your own."
If you find a bat on the ground, Bat World Sanctuary recommends waiting until it's motionless before carefully placing it in a secure, lidded container while wearing thick gloves or using a towel. If it's dark outside and the bat appears healthy, you can try releasing it. If it doesn't fly away, keep it somewhere safe and quiet until you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, which is always the best course of action.
In some cases, healthy baby bats can be reunited with their mothers or released once they're old enough. Orphaned or injured pups, however, require specialized warmth, feeding, and medical care that only trained wildlife rehabilitators can provide.
Hopefully, if you ever find yourself in Jadyn's shoes, you'll know exactly how to give a tiny bat its best chance at survival.
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This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM.