A woman in Sussex, England, was left stunned after discovering a large bat floating inside her toilet during a recent heatwave.
The bat, later named Louis, had apparently entered the house through an open window before ending up trapped in the toilet bowl. Wildlife experts believe the exhausted creature had been searching for water as temperatures soared.
The woman contacted wildlife volunteers after finding the bat and carefully rescued it from the bathroom using a garden trowel. She then had it assessed by specialists, who identified it as a Serotine bat, one of the larger bat species found in the UK.
Louis was reportedly thin and dehydrated when he arrived at Sussex Bat Hospital. He was placed under the care of Amanda Millar and given time to recover, along with a steady supply of mealworms.
After about a week, the bat had regained enough strength to undergo a test flight. Once experts confirmed that he was fit, Louis was taken back to the garden where he had been found and released at dusk.
Reflecting on the unexpected encounter, the woman said she had learnt a great deal about bats, including how heatwaves can leave them severely dehydrated. She also highlighted the dangers bats face from cats waiting near their roosts.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust has reminded residents that extreme summer heat can force bats to search for water in unusual places. Anyone who comes across a bat that appears to be in distress is advised to contact their local bat group for guidance rather than attempting to handle the animal unnecessarily.
