SAFELY AND NO ONE WAS HURT. BATS HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE GROUND IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY. THIS IS NEAR THE COURTHOUSE. A LOCAL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND RESCUE SAYS CONSTRUCTION IS TO BLAME. KOCO OLIVIA HICKEY EXPLAINS THINGS HAVE BEEN BAD AT THE OKLAHOMA COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE WINGED MAMMALS HAVE BEEN FOUND ALL OVER THE GROUND. MCKENZIE THOMAS WITH WILDCARE, OKLAHOMA, SAYS IT’S DUE TO ONGOING CONSTRUCTION. SO FAR, ABOUT 60 BATS, MOSTLY EVENING BATS, HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN AND RELEASED. THEY’RE ROOSTING IN THESE OLD BUILDINGS THAT ARE NOW BEING RENOVATED. THEY’RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THAT’S KIND OF PUSHING THE BATS OUT OF THOSE BUILDINGS. SO WHY ARE THE BATS ON THE GROUND? THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN BATS ARE ALSO MIGRATING, SO THEY’RE ALREADY ON THE MOVE. AND WITH THAT COMBINATION, ALONGSIDE THE WEATHER BEING KIND OF FUNNY AND GETTING COLD ALL OF A SUDDEN AND THEN WARMING BACK UP, THEY’RE BEING PUSHED TO THE GROUND. THOMAS SAYS. GROUNDED BATS ARE VULNERABLE. THEY NEED TO NUDGE UP AGAINST AN OBJECT AND USE GRAVITY TO TAKE OFF. IF YOU FEEL INCLINED TO HELP SCOOP ONE UP, THOMAS SAYS, YOU SHOULD GIVE THEM A CALL FIRST. AND REMEMBER, THEY’RE MORE AFRAID OF YOU THAN YOU ARE OF THEM. YOU CAN KIND OF USE A PIECE OF CARDBOARD AND SCOOP THEM INTO A SECURE CONTAINER. THE BEST THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS ONE THAT BATS ARE RABIES VECTOR SPECIES, WHICH MEANS THAT ANY SPECIES OF BATS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CARRY RABIES. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERY BAT HAS RABIES. THE PRIMARY THING IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NEVER, EVER TOUCHING A BAT BAREHANDED. IF YOU’RE NOT UP FOR THE TASK, WILDCARE OKLAHOMA WILL SEND A STAFF MEMBER TO GIVE IT A LIF
Bats displaced by courthouse construction found in downtown Oklahoma City
Construction at the Oklahoma County Courthouse has led to bats being found on the ground, prompting wildlife experts to intervene.
Updated: 10:40 PM CDT Oct 25, 2025
Bats have been found on the ground near the Oklahoma County Courthouse in downtown Oklahoma City due to ongoing construction work, according to local wildlife conservation and rescue experts. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelMackenzie Thomas, a wildlife rehabilitation manager with WildCare Oklahoma, explained that the renovations are pushing the bats out of their roosting spots in the buildings.”They’re roosting in these buildings that are now being renovated,” Thomas said. “They’re under construction, that’s kind of pushing the bats out of those buildings.”Thomas noted that about 60 bats, mostly evening bats, have been taken in and released. She explained that the bats are on the ground due to a combination of factors, including their migration season and fluctuating weather conditions.”This is also the time of year where evening bats are also migrating, so they’re already on the move,” Thomas said. “And with that combination alongside the weather being kind of funny and getting cold all of a sudden and then warming back up, they’re being pushed to the ground.”Grounded bats are vulnerable, Thomas said, as they need to nudge up against an object and use gravity to take off. She advised anyone inclined to help to contact WildCare Oklahoma first, emphasizing that bats are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”You can kind of use a piece of cardboard and scoop them into a clear container,” Thomas said. “Best thing to keep in mind is that bats are rabies vector species, which means that any species of bat can carry rabies doesn’t mean all bats have it. The primary thing is making sure we are never touching a bat bare-handed.”For those not up for the task, WildCare Oklahoma will send a staff member to assist.Top Headlines DNA from Napoleon’s ill-fated 1812 army reveals what likely led to the soldiers’ demise WATCH: Motorist shows moments military plane crash lands in southeast OKC Good Samaritan dad and son go viral for protecting unlocked candy shop Mother speaks out after son’s accused killer faces new animal abuse charges Driver killed by wood flying through windshield on Kingfisher County highway
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Bats have been found on the ground near the Oklahoma County Courthouse in downtown Oklahoma City due to ongoing construction work, according to local wildlife conservation and rescue experts.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Mackenzie Thomas, a wildlife rehabilitation manager with WildCare Oklahoma, explained that the renovations are pushing the bats out of their roosting spots in the buildings.
“They’re roosting in these buildings that are now being renovated,” Thomas said. “They’re under construction, that’s kind of pushing the bats out of those buildings.”
Thomas noted that about 60 bats, mostly evening bats, have been taken in and released. She explained that the bats are on the ground due to a combination of factors, including their migration season and fluctuating weather conditions.
“This is also the time of year where evening bats are also migrating, so they’re already on the move,” Thomas said. “And with that combination alongside the weather being kind of funny and getting cold all of a sudden and then warming back up, they’re being pushed to the ground.”
Grounded bats are vulnerable, Thomas said, as they need to nudge up against an object and use gravity to take off. She advised anyone inclined to help to contact WildCare Oklahoma first, emphasizing that bats are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“You can kind of use a piece of cardboard and scoop them into a clear container,” Thomas said. “Best thing to keep in mind is that bats are rabies vector species, which means that any species of bat can carry rabies doesn’t mean all bats have it. The primary thing is making sure we are never touching a bat bare-handed.”
For those not up for the task, WildCare Oklahoma will send a staff member to assist.
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