- Author, Jonathan Geddes
- Role, BBC Scotland News
A baby bat has been brought home to the Highlands after hiding in a couple’s holiday luggage.
It was discovered by Alex O’Neill on his return to Glasgow, after he and his partner stayed in a cottage on the Kinlochmoidart estate in Lochailort.
The little bat, who has been named Raspberry, survived in hiding for four hours during the 150-mile journey last week.
After being placed in the care of a bat expert, Raspberry was returned to full health and released in the Highlands on Saturday evening.
Image source, Tracey Jolliffe
Alex told BBC Scotland News he found the bat after feeling something move in his bag while he was unpacking it.
He said: “We sometimes see bats here in Glasgow. Lochailort has a lot of them so it’s not likely to scare me.
“I took it out, threw something on it to keep it dark, then Googled what to do with a bat.
“It was calm, it wasn’t agitated or anything. You just had to put a towel on it and pick it up to take care of it.”
Alex contacted the Bat Conservation Trust who put him in touch with expert Tracey Jolliffe – a microbiologist and former veterinary nurse.
Tracey, who named the bat Raspberry, said it was an inexperienced pilot and was probably disorientated, which led it into the suitcase.
She added: “Raspberry was a juvenile about to take her first real flight. It’s relatively common for them to get into trouble at that time.
“She was a little thin and in a terrible state at first, but she was better after a few days of feeding.”
Tracey allowed Raspberry to perform test flights around her ceiling to ensure he would be able to take flight again.
She put out a call on social media for anyone who could help bring Rasperry back to the Highlands.
The Darlington family from Wrexham, who were visiting Glasgow on their way north, were able to take Raspberry part of the way to Strontian in Lochaber.
Raspberry was then handed over to ranger Eilidh-Ann Philipps who took her back to Kinlochmoidart Estate.
Raspberry was quickly joined by other bats from the roost when she was released at dusk on Saturday.
Sarah Winnington-Ingram, who runs the estate, said she could not recall an animal hiding with a visitor.
She added: “It’s quite unusual. There’s a lot of wildlife here and people see bats all the time, but not like this.
“I’ve never seen a bat in the cottage before. It’s great to have it back safely in the house.”
