You could call it a case of Batman versus Spider-Man — but on a somewhat smaller-than superhero scale.
Big Thicket National Preserve in southeastern Texas shared an unusual rescue story this week about an Eastern red bat.
The helpless creature, out feasting on bugs, found itself tangled up in a spiderweb. Make that an “enormous” spiderweb.
After plucking the bat free, the experts weighed it at 13 grams with a wingspan was 11 inches and in good health.
“After smiling for a few pictures, they let me go back to my late-night dinner buffet,” the park service posted on Facebook Monday, speaking of course from the perspective of the bat.
It was a lucky break for the bat.
The scientists were out looking for southeastern myotises and Rafinesque’s big-eared bats, which are listed as threatened in Texas.
“The scientists were hoping to observe how many of those bats live in the Big Thicket so they can better protect their habitat,” the park service posted.
The bat lives in large, hollow trees, like bald cypress and tupelo. But their habitat is threatened by development, saltwater intrusion and climate change.
“By studying their roosting habits, scientists can focus their efforts on protecting those bats’ homes,” the park service explained.
It also thanked Bat Conservation International for surveying the bats of Big Thicket.
“This is how big our smiles were surveying bats at Big Thicket National Preserve last month!” the organization posted.
And, they didn’t even need the Bat-Signal to save this critter in distress.
Photo: NPS/Henry Baldwin/Facebook
