Rescuing a flying-fox on the ground: this is Ampersand

[@danielleleyshon-m9o]

Such a cutie, thank you for rescuing him. World needs more kind souls like you. Cheers to you 🥂

[@KACn5582]

Meg has a huge heart since it's been broken so often. Yet she still gives it away with each little battie. ❤

[@tamarrajames3590]

She does, and this time Betwixt and Ampersand are both survivors. May we truly be over that bad patch and into the straight.🖤🇨🇦

[@stormseeker4freedom]

Broken hearts never lose their ability to love truly. The strength in Meg's heart will never grow dim. We all love you dear Meg. ❤❤❤

[@adrianabostwick1213]

I’m so Glad Meg has helped these beautiful creatures! So sad what this little baby has gone through. 😢❤🦇

[@denise331]

You’re in great hands, little boy❤️🦇🙏🏽

[@heatherburrell]

Thankyou, Meg, these lives are so vulnerable. May Ampersand be a mighty little survivor. He will thrive in your care, you really are the best human for helping these beautiful lives 💙🖤💜.

[@OohTarquin]

The poor mum . Hope her son survives - he's in good hands , I know

[@Megabattie]

This was 2 weeks ago; he's still alive.

[@Dropla]

You may think it's only the bats you help heal. It isn't. Your videos helped me get through the covid lockdown. I still watch them, it's healing, seeing that there are still people out there that care for something other than themselves. You're a healer in many many ways. Thanks for that. ♥

[@tamarrajames3590]

I agree, Meg helps so many of us get through tough challenges with her compassion and empathy. She could stroke my forehead and say encouraging things to me any day of the week, and I would do my best not to let her down too.🖤🇨🇦

[@danielleleyshon-m9o]

Those sleepy eyes after feeding him is so adorable.

[@debbiefox6846]

It must be sad pulling them off their mom's for the first time. You know they are gone & they so confused & scared. He really took to you Meg. He was loving the cuddles, having his little head rubbed, And his bottle. It was so nice to see you taking care of a pup that has a really good chance. He's so beautiful.He'll have lots of beautiful babies some day because you selflessly gave your time to save him. 💙🦇😊 Thanks for taking such good care of all of these babies.

[@Megabattie]

He's hanging in there after being squidgy for a while; he hasn't had an easy first few weeks, but he's doing OK now.

[@nataliakhomenko5325]

Thank you, wonderful person, for caring about living beings

[@nivermore14]

Dear little sky puppies. I’m so glad that you were there to rescue the little boy. It’s bittersweet that they’ve lost their Mom not knowing what happened to her but you’re there to give them a fighting chance. ❤️🦇

[@tamarrajames3590]

Sometimes all they need is a fighting chance, and a little of Meg’s magic.🖤🇨🇦

[@karentexas]

You are such a kind and caring person. Without his mom he has found you to help him. How you saw him is amazing. Thank you again for doing what you do. ❤❤❤

[@tamarrajames3590]

He is stronger for having so much more bonding time with his Mum than the younger ones too. That gives him a much bigger chance at survival…especially with Meg giving cuddle time, strokes, and her loving voice.🖤🇨🇦

[@lindayoung58]

Meg those tender strokes to Ampersand's head while he was having the bottle were absolutely heart melting. The most 'bestest' wishes !

[@Megabattie]

His mum would lick his head; mumbats are very tactile with their babies.

[@cmshap]

​@@MegabattieI've heard you say before that touching and talking to orphaned babies in care is very important, because they are socially intelligent animals and thrive on interaction. I'm guessing your operating principle is that interacting with them in ways that mimic their mothers' care will help to encourage things like feeding, alertness, and healing/recovery. This all makes perfect sense, but I hadn't really thought about this too much until just now -- that every little interaction can potentially give a small boost to a baby's odds of survival.

[@Megabattie]

@@cmshap Mumbats are very "hands on" without actually having hands; they've very loving, fiercely protective and let baby hang on them and "walk" all over them for months. They wrap them in their wings, the milk bar is always open, they groom their babies many times a day; they're very loving

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieAnd he is present enough to benefit from your time just sitting with him and giving comfort. He is just exquisite, and receptive, he has the right stuff.🖤🇨🇦

[@Megabattie]

@@tamarrajames3590 He's just "more alive" than most of my previous rescues

[@keldaogg2157]

What a good teaching moment to show how the baby clings onto mumbat.

[@blackswan1983]

Meg is amazing at teaching the children who watch her rescue the bats

[@tamarrajames3590]

And then the baby clings to Meg. A warm and compassionate humum is a close second choice for not letting you fall.🖤🇨🇦

[@Ladypuppy510]

I love that moment when they realize the bottle has milk and it tastes good.

[@janegreen9340]

Such a good appetite!Good luck young man.

[@littleredflying-fox]

What a good little boy bat Ampersand is. He looks much more animated than the last few. Hope he makes it! ♥️🦇♥️🦇♥️🦇♥️

[@tamarrajames3590]

Meg says he is a survivor.🖤🇨🇦

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

Little guy is a bit grown and has a good appetite for human help! I hope he succeeds with your care as so many with the least possibility do.

[@tamarrajames3590]

He is presenting very well I think, and that extra age, and time spent in his Mum’s care is giving him an edge that bodes well for his survival. Meg has a really good success rate when they come in like him. I think we may be turning the corner on that bad patch we have been in, with Betwixt finding herself on this side of the river, and now him showing so positive and strong, it feels good.🖤🇨🇦

[@marysalazar2870]

Praying for baby Ampersand to grow stronger and survive.

[@Megabattie]

He's a survivor; this was 2 weeks ago and he's still alive and with a carer.

[@tamarrajames3590]

He is making a good start of it, and cuddle time sitting up with Meg giving him loving will give him more strength. He knows he isn’t alone, and he is being comforted. He is also a good bit older than most we have been losing of late, and he had a couple of months + in his Mum’s care to start him off well.🖤🇨🇦

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieYay!!! I’m so happy to hear that good news. Was he with you long enough for us to see a little more of him? I hope none of the feral Oncers got their hands on him.🥂🖤🇨🇦

[@Megabattie]

@@tamarrajames3590 I have a rule, no ferals, no oncers, and nobody who deserves a tonsillectomy per rectum with a pair of rusty nail scissors... He was with me for just over 36 hours I think. I have more footage.

[@lesal.1373]

Ampersand has a good appetite! That's promising. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@tamarrajames3590]

Meg says he is a survivor!!!🖤🇨🇦

[@elkenieen3856]

Das ist traurige das Arme Flughund Baby ohne Mutter ich hoffentlich kommt der kleine durch 😢😢😢🙏🙏🇧🇪

[@tamarrajames3590]

Meg says he is a survivor, and is with a carer.🖤🇨🇦

[@Kim-lc3fv]

It's amazing how quickly they recognise you and Maggie (and later, the other carers) as their new loving human mums. ❤😊

[@Megabattie]

In minicreche, the babies will come back to their individual human mothers for some loving and comfort. They know who their mums are.

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieYou don’t forget who kissed your scraped knees, and kissed them better.🖤🇨🇦

[@chriscorbin2059]

Some milk for the baby and some bubbly for Meg. CHEERS ❤❤

[@lesleypowell3431]

So precious ❤

[@Elly-fm3nx]

Rest in peace beautiful Mum bat. Your baby battie Ampersand is safe and sound by wonderful Meg. 🦇💗🕊️🙏💐

[@christinehivert-burvenique7499]

Bonne chance petit Esperluette !

[@Megabattie]

Esperluette is also a good name; I like it. Another word for ampersand

[@penelopesheehan5927]

Be brave, little &! We’re all cheering for you! And we’re crossing our fingers for some good luck for Meg, as well.

[@tamarrajames3590]

She says he is a survivor, and has been with a carer for a week now.🖤🇨🇦

[@EleniEliades_]

❤Baby Ampersand seems less squidgy than all the other Baby rescues. He's off to a great start 🎉

[@Megabattie]

Yes, he looks a lot more normal and behaves normally

[@tamarrajames3590]

He is older than most of the recent ones, and had longer to bond with his Mum. When Meg found him, he was warm, and not dehydrated or injured. That sets him up well.🖤🇨🇦

[@GlitzyWitch]

Bless him, its so sad seeing all these mums dying, this baby at least is doing well so far. Aunty Meg to the rescue. I hooe he continues on the up and up ❤❤❤

[@snellsnell7490]

It’s good to see a healthy drinker milk for baby and champagne for you. Sounds like a winning combination

[@chezmoi42]

Mre Mumbat was so graceful in her final pose, like a ballerina. Warm wishes to & for a long and happy life, full of blossoms and baby-making.

[@A.L.Gardner]

A little more octopussy, a little less squidgy...there's hope for this one 🤞🏻❤️

[@tamarrajames3590]

Very much so.🖤🇨🇦

[@swithinbarclay4797]

Wow, ALL of that milk formula, RAPIDLY right down the hatch; that looks GOOD (Promising?)!! But he wants MORE(Laughs!!)!!

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Such a precious little Boychick baby Bat!🩶🦇🍼🤗💕💕 I am very hopeful for his survival. I know Ampersand is now in your capable and loving hands.🥰

[@tamarrajames3590]

Meg said he is a survivor, and with a carer. This video was taken a week ago.🖤🇨🇦

[@tracyjacoby2382]

​@@tamarrajames3590Very happy to hear this!🩶🦇🤗💕💕 Meg gives the initial wonderful care always but she cannot keep them all in care, they do go onto wonderful Carers.💕The Bats are so lucky to have these beautiful people.🥰

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@tracyjacoby2382 Me too, the whole team makes it work…when it can.🖤🇨🇦

[@AnneSmith-mu2ph]

O Meg how sad !thank god the baby has you ,your an angel bless lv Ann uk ❤️❤️❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Laura-dz9om]

So happy to see Baby Ampersand feeding. So, so sad he had to lose his Mother. God bless him and you Meg.

[@RhemaMooneeram]

Tomorrow last part of chemo and ct booked in after. Ready for it.

[@Megabattie]

yay that's progress Rhema

[@tamarrajames3590]

Wishing you the very best of news Rhea, may all that be behind you, with happiness and success ahead.🕯️🖤🇨🇦

[@MC-qb1jg]

Another little fighter.

[@mariagonzalez5119]

AWWWWW! I wish they could prevent these deaths!! It's so sad to lose their mother! 😢 I hope he survives! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tamarrajames3590]

Meg says he is a survivor, and is with a carer.🖤🇨🇦

[@mariagonzalez5119]

@tamarrajames3590 YAY! Thank you! ❤️

[@Ladylibidex]

Oh wow 🤩 so good to see the little boy alive despite the circumstances with mom. Such a beautiful baby. ❤

[@FirefuryAmahira]

Oh what a wonderful little bit of good news! Saw in the comments that this was a couple weeks ago and that he's a survivor, which is even better news! And it's always a joy hearing MoPs expressing interest and "awwwww" about the bats; sounded like quite a few off-camera spectators had a wonderful learning moment thanks to this adorable little fella. 🥰

[@Megabattie]

Yes, he's a survivor but he has had a rocky road during the last few weeks

[@PlanetEarth3141]

I've watched a ton of animal rescues over many years on the internet. I'm thinking I've never been so enthralled as now by an English lady dedicated to saving bats. I don't have a good way to verbalize my unexpected pleasure and intrigue. 🤔😇👌

[@Megabattie]

LOL, I'm not English, I'm Aussie. There are lots of English ladies dedicated to saving bats in the UK, and some out here too. I'm glad you're unexpectedly pleased.

[@PlanetEarth3141]

@Megabattie l tried various videos that seemed likey, revised channel info and could not find a link to Mandi or a channel by her. I'll assume there is none for her bat care unless you tell me otherwise. I'm going to systematically review all your videos. I'm still interested in how and what you feed adult bats and where you would get that sort of food.

[@Megabattie]

@@PlanetEarth3141 I post videos for Mandi; she supplies me with videos and I get any donations sent to her to Tolga Bat Hospita who sends the money directly to her. It's he best way that money can go to her as a charity donation rather than come to me, and have to be considered income for me, which it isn't. Mandi is a carer who has exemplary care; she gives her permanent care bats a lot of enrichment, both social, environmental and emotional; her permanent bats have access to the transient rehabilitation bat population so they have variety, new faces, temporary and permanent bats with whom they can attach for some hanky panky of the baby making ilk. Their babies are release with the rest of the baby season orphans through a creche release system.

[@Megabattie]

@@PlanetEarth3141 I think Mandi does have a YT channel, but she doesn't post on it anymore; it's been quite a long time; she sends videos to me and I post them, raise money for her, and have it sent to Tolga Bat Hospital which is a charity, and they send to Mandi direct. The money never comes to me which is awesome because I don't need tax issues. Mandi gets to show her videos; I get to put up videos of bats not in my care and at a level I don't do, and she gets the donations; win win win. The adult bats get fed domesticated fruit (because we can buy it); it's 2/3 hard fruit (apple and pear) and 1/3 soft fruits (which are the really sweet melons, grapes, stone fruits and other very sweet high calorie fruits). High protein powder is added to it to boost the protein; apple and pear have a lot more protein than the soft grapes, melons and stone fruits.

[@carmelurbanoviezurbanoviez7437]

God bless you Meg and little Ampersand ❤xxx

[@theloveyourfacegal2773]

Praying 🙏 he pulls though 💗 well done as always Meg.

[@Megabattie]

He's doing OK, 2 weeks later, but he's had a bit of a rocky path to his current happy state

[@Lisa-eu9fy]

Meg, there you go again with your awesomeness naming!!!💙🦇💙🦇💙🦇💙

[@missnaomi613]

Peeing, playing AND drinking! Keep it up, Ampersand!

[@LedaMuchomas]

Balms of Gilead for baby bats and weary hearts 🥰

[@marionbowler5440]

You are amazing Meg ❤🇨🇦🦇🍁

[@mariacav6662]

🥰😘❤️

[@myssixensen7516]

🖤🦇🖤

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Poor mother bat…at least her tiny little boy with the big feet has a chance. Eating is always a good sign.

[@tamarrajames3590]

He had a significant bonding time with his Mum, unlike so many of the younger ones, and that makes him stronger too.🖤🇨🇦

[@damattice23]

Sweet boy! ❤. He says “thank you sweet lady”.

[@heatherburrell]

Poor mamabat, her little boy is precious and is very receptive towards Meg. Beautiful little life 💙🖤🩵

[@vickychaotic1602]

Thank you, Meg, for all the work you do! The plushie is a German Shepherd Dog, I think. Greetings from Germany 😉

[@PK-oy4fe]

This little one gives me hope after that good feed! 🤞😇❤️🖤🦇🖤❤️ New bracelet/ earring set for Meg on the bracelet listng....working on more! ❤❤❤

[@shirleyw8720]

For a moment there, Meg, I thought you were going to top up baby’s bottle with your fizz 😂

[@Megabattie]

LOL; once I was trying to recharge my phone and I forgot midway what I was doing, and was looking for a port in the baby I was feeding; somewhere to plug in the charger.

[@shirleyw8720]

@ 😂😂😂

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieLOL, I’m pretty sure they don’t work that way…be pretty good if they did though.🤭🖤🇨🇦

[@Megabattie]

@@tamarrajames3590 Yeah unfortunately

[@nblmqst1167]

Go Ampersand! Very cute dummy he has too.

[@tamarrajames3590]

Oh Meg…he is gorgeous! Hearing him sucking on his dummy as you put him in the incubator, then seeing him still holding it when he came out was great, then watching him reaching for you awake and alert was so good. The speed with which he latched onto the nipple and drained the bottle was icing on the cake. I have a good feeling about little Ampersand, he has more age on him than a lot we have been seeing lately. Seeing him come in warm, and not dehydrated, able to pee right off makes me think he has enough strength and stamina to be a survivor. He is present enough to really benefit from being held by you, and soothed by your touch, heartbeat and voice. His world has turned upside down, but he is engaging with you in a way I haven’t seen much lately. Just sitting and having you stroke his head and talk to him will do him a world of good, knowing he is not alone, and is loved. On a side note…I got an ad for “Miracle Made Sheets”. I bought a set a month and a half ago to try, and I bought a second set and comforter 2 weeks ago. They are the nicest sheets I have ever slept in, and they have a 45% off sale at the moment. They temperature regulate, and let you sleep comfortably cool, but still warm enough. I will be using this bedding only from now on. I’m sorry Ampersand lost his Mum, but glad he is showing strength and a readiness to stay here in your care.🌹🥂🖤🇨🇦

[@Megabattie]

He's a survivor and is with a carer now, though he's had a rocky road to his current state. It's interesting about the ad for the sheets; I often wonder why if you buy something they then spam you with ads for the thing you've bought like they think you're going to buy more...

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@Megabattie I agree, they asked my review on their product, and I said I love them. But how much bedding do you think I need at this point in life. I have two sets of sheets, and a comforter for the winter…my old one was toast. But I don’t need anymore lol.🖤🇨🇦

[@irmawesterback2930]

Oh poor mom bat😪. Baby boy has big legs and has much to talk about🗨️🗨️🗨️Hope he doing well🤗

[@swithinbarclay4797]

Ampie's plushie is a German Shepherd puppy, plain and simple! And Ampie often has lap-forward ears, just like most Terriers--"Flying Terriers"--rather than Flying Foxes? Just musing . . .

[@smexypyro]

I love your vids Meg! And I believe that stuffy is supposed to be a GSD

[@Megabattie]

I think it looks like a red panda and nothing like a dog.

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieIt could be a red fox too, very caricaturised .🖤🇨🇦

[@missycitty9478]

Poor sweet little guy. It's so sad he lost his mama. 😢 Why did mama die?

[@Megabattie]

Well I didn't know why his mum died from looking at her body, however I did find out later that Ampersand has burns on his wings which came up a week or so later so mumbat suffered a sublethal electrocution which killed her a few hours later.

[@pixie706]

How lovely to have a stronger baby after all the sad ones. I wonder if you could explain how the injected fluids help . After watching you do this umpteen times I suddenly realised I dont know the mechanics of these precious fluids. ❤

[@Megabattie]

The bats' kidneys don't concentrate their urine to conserve fluids, so they get dehydrated quickly. If I give them subcutaneous fluids it is absorbed slowly from their tissues, which provides support to their circulatory system, which, in shock, is busy shunting fluids to vital organs and trying to keep the blood pressure stable. If you have an accident and go to hospital, the first thing they do is put an IV up; subcutaneous fluids are an equivalent measure for the batties, and they will absorb the fluid over time if they need it.

[@Snarlacc]

Every rescue a kinder surprise these days. How still it was I thought it was dead!

[@tamarrajames3590]

He is a strong little guy, with a better head start than the younger ones…he had bonding time with his Mum before he lost her.🖤🇨🇦

[@tchambard]

💜

[@Catherine-hf6zc]

Any idea of what happened to mumbat?

[@Megabattie]

Actually, yes; even though I couldn't find any electrocution injuries on her, baby Ampersand in care has got superficial wing burns shown up, so I expect mumbat had a sublethal electrocution episode which killed her after a few hours

[@MinerBat]

how many bats do you usually have in care at the same time? only one?

[@Megabattie]

Haha, how long is a piece of string? I had 22 babies in my bathroom at one stage, and it was a nightmare; they took it in turns to cry, and they kept escaping. It depends on the season; this is a Q season; Q means it's not busy; Q is a word starting with Q that sounds like quite, and means not busy, but if you say the Q word out loud, it becomes non-Q and starts raining babies. If it's a busy season I have lots of batties; Maggie and I had 13 here for a while once. If I'm taking babies for myself and raising them till creche, I often have around 4-6 if Maggie's around and will do some of the feeds. But mostly now I concentrate on rescuing, sorting out, stabilising and getting them feeding, then moving them along to a carer asap. The last thing I need at midnight is more babies to feed.

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@MegabattieYou had some really fun gangs of babies in those years though, they were always getting up to mischief of one sort or another…they kept us laughing. You seem to have lots of carers lately though.🖤🇨🇦

[@Megabattie]

@@tamarrajames3590 Nah, I have no carers so I have to go further afield for moving my babies along, which is why I don't often get updates

[@tamarrajames3590]

@@Megabattie I’m sorry to hear that, but you can only do what you can I guess.🖤🇨🇦

[@elenaandino]

¿Me permite un sugerencia, Meg? Cuando lleve a l@s murciélag@s al lavabo para que hagan pis, abra el grifo del agua un poco. Funciona con los bebés humanos. Quizás con ell@s también. Me gusta el nombre de Ampersand. Me parece que es muy guapo. Es una pena que perdiera a su madre. Ahora le tiene a Usted, Meg, para ayudarle.

[@Megabattie]

Algunos responden al agua, otros no. La mayoría no lo hace. Es una cuestión de si hay o no orina en la vejiga, si está produciendo orina.

[@normandothegreat]

Any idea how mum passed? 😢

[@Megabattie]

I didn't at the time, but subsequently Ampersand has developed burns on his membrane so mumbat must have had an initially non fatal electrocution which killed her over some time.

[@denise331]

Blajahahahah I totally cracked up with the baby milk and champagne !!!

[@Megabattie]

A glass of bubbles is always helpful in these situations, specially if you have to spend 15 minutes watching a glacially slow feed; the trick is to make sure you don't mix them up.

[@denise331]

@ I’m cracking up😂😂

[@vivianmacbluff5285]

8:08 It's a german shepard dog.

[@ediesvideos3095]

Maybe because Mom hadn't been dead long, so he didn't have to get so cold and dehydrated, he has a better chance. 🤞

[@Megabattie]

Mumbat had milk in her nipples so he wasn't dehydrated, and it was a warm day so he wasn't cold.

[@VermiciousKenid]

❤😊

[@maricormier121]

Don't get your libations mixed up with his milk. I am having a glass as I type this. I live in the US and given the political shit show here I relax while I watch your vlogs!

[@Megabattie]

I once tried to plug my charger into one of the bats, because I forgot I was going to charge my phone and I had a baby in my lap and I was really tired

[@BraunesToast]

Could u name the next cute flying fox "Flump"? It sounds nice 🍀

[@Megabattie]

Hi BraunesToast I don't take name suggestions from viewers because if I take one I am inundated by people wanting me to name the next bat the name they suggest, then they want updates all the time; that is the path to insanity. So I don't take or use suggestions. Besides, I really like naming the bats and coming up with the most appropriate and weird/unusual names for my rescues. Apropos of your YT name: Interestingly my favourite cafe is called Black Toast (but I call it Burnt Toast). Welcome to Megabattie, I'm Meg I put lots of information in the descriptions under the videos - so if you have questions, look for the answers there first. I also put the fate of the animal if I know it, at the time I put the video up. I may put updates there later if I find out what happened to the animal after it has left my care. There is also a Happy Outcomes playlist if you want to only watch videos where the bat survives; this is a real life channel and you get the good, the bad, the ugly and distressing, and even my oopsies. You can find further videos on an individual bat by searching in the YT search bar for Megabattie/and the name of the bat you want to follow. There is a community tab (like a mini Facebook page) on my channel - if you go to Megabattie home page, there is a menu bar across the top under the cover pic. Home, Videos, Playlists, Community, About. If you click on the community tab there are posts there where I can share pix and talk about some of the videos I put up and answer questions. I put up videos from Mandi and my rescue and care videos, so look to the title or description to figure out the context of the vids. Mandi doesn't rescue but she does a huge amount of rehabbing and has a lot of permanent care bats unable to be released for various reasons. She sends me the most amazing videos of her old retired bats in care; they've all got individual personalities and adorable quirks. Mandi lives 1200 kms away from me so I don't get to visit there often. I raise money for her on the videos. The rescue vids from my point of view are all mine, and if you hear me talking and see my hands in the videos doing bat care, then that's me too.

[@RoxanneSharbono-mb8ol]

Can I make suggestion? Post a semicolon in yout batty room. ; it means pause and peoplewho are dealing with pain,like you do when you have a spate of sorrowful endings to remind themselves to pose and re.embertheshrvovorda hard releases.you are an amazingly emotionally strong woman, but everyone needs to pause once in a while .

[@denise331]

You’re in great hands, little boy❤️🦇🙏🏽