Dozens of bats thrown onto the snow near a gymnasium in Salihorsk. What now?
On the morning of February 2, in the courtyard of Gymnasium No. 1 in Salihorsk, people saw a horrifying scene: several dozens of bats lay on the snow, in severe frost. How they ended up there is not precisely known.
Gymnasium No. 1 in Salihorsk and bats on the snow. Photo: social networks of "Kazhanapolis"
But their future fate is, most likely, predictable: animals do not survive in such conditions.
This is not an isolated incident and not a natural anomaly. According to ecologists, similar situations occur almost annually in Belarus — especially in winter.
Ecologist and expert of the "Green Belarus" Alliance, Inessa Balotsina, explains:
"Such cases, unfortunately, occur regularly in Belarus. The last similar incident was at the end of November 2025 in Brest: several dozens of discarded bats were found near a multi-story building. It was warmer then, and some of them were saved."
According to the specialist, there are 19 species of bats in Belarus, 8 of which are listed in the Red Book of Belarus and are protected by law, facing extinction.
Why bats hibernate in cities
In winter, bats do not fly or hunt. They enter a state of deep hibernation: body temperature decreases, breathing and heart rate slow down, the body conserves energy.
For wintering in the city, they often choose balconies, loggias, attics, basements, and cracks in walls.
"During hibernation, bats are most vulnerable. If they are thrown out onto the street in such a state, they will die from the cold," emphasizes Inessa Balotsina.
That is why phrases like "they will fly away on their own" or "we just released them" in winter mean only one thing — a death sentence for the animals.
The case in Salihorsk is no exception. In recent years, cases of bats being discarded during renovations in residential buildings, and the destruction of colonies in basements and attics have been recorded in Belarus.
Sometimes bats can be saved if people contact specialists in time. But in severe frosts, like now, there is almost no chance.
What to do if you find bats
The Bat Rehabilitation Center "Kazhanapolis" has been operating in Belarus for several years. It is particularly active from autumn to spring.
If you find bats in your home during renovation or by accident, do not touch them or throw them out onto the street. Instead, contact the "Kazhanapolis" volunteers (the phone number is listed on the project's social media: +375 29 213 92 57). There, the animals are placed in a special refrigerator in sleeping bags, where they safely hibernate, and in spring, they are released into nature.
Bats are not "pests" but an important part of the ecosystem. They destroy insects, including pests of agriculture and forestry. They are not aggressive and, contrary to popular belief, do not attack humans or chew electrical wires.
Furthermore, the destruction of certain bat species is a violation of the law. Fines, administrative, and in cases of mass death, even criminal liability are provided for the death of animals listed in the Red Book.
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