Hoover

Hoover came into our lives when we were just starting out as bat rehabilitators. We got a call that a person’s dogs alerted to a bat stuck in an outdoor washing machine. When Hoover came in, we really weren’t sure if he was going to make it. He had a severe injury to his forearm, most likely from a fight with another male Mexican free-tailed bat. Generally the species lives together in harmony, but during mating season the males can inflict serious bite wounds on each other as they fight for females. Hoover’s wound was badly infected, incredibly swollen, and dirty.

It was apparent from the beginning that Hoover was a special bat. Even though we had to do extensive wound care, he was patient and tolerant and seemed to trust us. He got his name from his appetite for mealworms. To this day, we haven’t seen a bat suck down worms more quickly than him.

After weeks of medical care and some help from Prescott Animal Hospital, Hoover started to improve. Unfortunately, the damage is so severe that he is unable to fully open his wing on that side and fly. Because of this, we received a permit to keep Hoover for the rest of his life.

We call Hoover the Ambassador because he is so friendly with new bats of any species. Since bats are very social, it helps new and longer-term bats to be more comfortable if they have some company. Hoover is also a champ in the flight enclosure. Regular exercise is important for all bats, not just flighted ones, and he runs around the whole flight enclosure all night. Not being able to fly doesn’t slow him down at all. He has a  unique face and is very expressive.

We are so grateful to have Hoover with us and his sweet spirit and voracious appetite never fail to make us smile.

About Mexican free-tailed bats

Mexican free-tailed bats are the most prevelant bats in Arizona. They roost in tens of thousands here but other roosts around the world are up to tens of millions of individuals. They are incredibly agile fliers and it has been claimed that at level flight they move even faster than a cheetah running. Mexican free-tails have one pup a year and  keep their pups together in large maternity colonies. When the mother is out hunting for the night, the young cluster together for warmth and safety. When the mother returns, she is able to find her pup among hundreds or thousands of young.

In general, Mexican free-tailed bats do well in captivity and get along with each other and other species. They are gentle and trusting but they are also incredibly stubborn when they want to be. They have squeaks, clicks, chitters, and "grumbles" that humans can hear. When they want to be fed faster or no longer want to be handled, they have a special click they use to let us know. This click basically tells us to do the opposite of whatever we are currently doing.  They definitely keep us in line.