The bat is now being cared for in nearby Carbon County. Newswatch 16’s Emily Kress spoke with the experts about the surprising discovery.

CARBON COUNTY, Pa. — Stephanie Hoffmaster works as a parking enforcement officer with the West Hazleton Police Department. Late last week, she was helping someone get their car out of the impound lot when she discovered a bat looking to catch a ride. 

“The taillight was smashed out, and right inside the taillight, it was hanging, so I’m like, oh no.  I got a stick to get it out. It did go out, but it hopped on the ground. It wasn’t flying,” said Hoffmaster.

So Hoffmaster knew she had to help the tiny creature. 

“I did get a little plastic baggie out of my car, which is all I had, and I put it in that, so I got back to the station, and then I put it in a container put air holes in. It went home and started contacting people that would be able to take it,” explained Hoffmaster. 

That’s how the bat ended up at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. Naturalist Susan Gallagher says that after taking a look at the bat’s features,  it was discovered to be a northern long-eared bat. 

“And it is one that is endangered statewide, but also has federal protection as well, so when we say endangered species, you could be endangered in Pennsylvania and doing well throughout the rest of your range. This is a species that is endangered throughout its range,” said Gallagher.

Gallagher says the northern long-eared bat population was hit hard after a white-nose syndrome outbreak. She says the bat now in their care is dehydrated and underweight.

“These bats are tiny animals to begin with, but she’s weighing in at only about 4 grams. So we want to make sure that she is hydrated and she’s well fed and that she can fly well,” said Gallagher. 

Hoffmaster says she remembers the call telling her she helped rescue an endangered species. 

“First, I almost went to cry. I’m like Oh my goodness but then I was like Wow, that’s really cool that we have something like that within our area. Here, my biggest thing at that point, knowing that they’re here and they are in the endangered species list, is to let the public know that if they ever come across that, please don’t kill it,” said Hoffmaster. 

“If you live in West Hazelton and you have trees in your backyard, it’s possible you’re home to an endangered species. Every one of these bats counts. every tree in that neighborhood counts,” 

Wildlife experts expect to be able to release the bat back into the West Hazleton area in a few days.Â