ABOUT US
We are a group of passionate bat advocates.
Who We Are
We are a small, 100% volunteer-run nonprofit permitted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. As a relatively young grassroots organization, we rely entirely on the financial contributions of team members and individual donors to remain operational. We are biologists, licensed rehabilitators, educators, students, and corporate professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a deep appreciation for Southern California’s native animal species. Every rescue, every transport, and every recovery is made possible by the time and personal resources our volunteers commit.
Our Mission​​​​
Los Angeles Bat Rescue (LABR) is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, orphaned, and ill bats in Southern California. Through compassionate care, public education, and collaboration with conservation partners, we strive to protect and advocate for bats as vital members of our ecosystem.
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What We Do
In 2024, LABR transported and cared for 126 injured, ill, or orphaned bats from six different counties, representing 11 species—and we expect that number to rise significantly in 2025.
As climate change, habitat loss, and emerging diseases like White-Nose Syndrome and Wing Wasting Disease continue to threaten microbat populations, more compromised bats are being found by the public each year. During peak summer months, we receive up to 10 calls a day about distressed bats. Responding to these cases requires the help of trained volunteers—sometimes exclusively those who are Rabies-vaccinated—who often drive long distances at their own expense to rescue or release a single animal. Each bat requires hours of daily, specialized care, and we work closely with veterinarians to provide the highest quality medical support. LABR fills a critical gap in Southern California’s wildlife response network, offering both expert care and a compassionate safety net.
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Through our educational outreach programs we highlight the unique role of bats in Southern California’s ecosystems, fostering appreciation for these critical yet often misunderstood creatures. Through interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and community engagement, we educate diverse audiences about the essential services bats provide, such as controlling insect populations, pollinating native plants, and dispersing seeds in local habitats.
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Recent events we've taken part in include: Longfellow Elementary’s Earth Day festival in Long Beach, the San Dimas Canyon Halloween Nature Crawl at the San Dimas Nature Center, the "Let's Get Batty" Halloween program at the Ahmanson Senior Center Downtown Los Angeles, Jane Goodall's Day of Peace 2024 in San Pedro, and the Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair at the Los Angeles Convention Center. We reach underserved groups and provide them with unique bat-focused educational opportunities.
​In 2023, Amy was granted her own permit by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, allowing her to continue the difficult work of rehabilitating these fragile and underserved creatures. LABR has since been formed into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization singularly dedicated to the care and protection of Southern California bats.
Rehabilitating bats with the goal of release is an effort that demands deep commitment and personal sacrifice. LABR depends on and values the dedicated, knowledgeable volunteers who provide emergency transportation services, educational programming expertise, financial resources, and administrative support. Please see our Volunteer page to learn more about how to get involved.
History​​​
In 2018, while volunteering at a raptor rehabilitation center, Amy Spencer received an email from bat biologist Jill Carpenter. Jill was seeking rehabilitation centers willing to accept bats in need of medical care—a service largely unavailable in Southern California at the time. This gap in care left few options for the injured or compromised bats that Jill and other field biologists often find in their work.
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Alongside fellow rehabber and LABR co-founder, Chumi Paul, Amy began exploring what it would take to rehabilitate wild bats. Both obtained their pre-exposure rabies vaccinations, went through a number of specialized training workshops, and began rehabilitating bats under the permit of another facility that graciously took them in. By 2019, they were actively caring for injured and compromised bats.
Amy continues to complete coursework on bat rehabilitation practices, attend seminars and workshops on the natural history of bats, and create partnerships with other bat rehabilitators and naturalists to ensure she's up to date with the most advanced veterinary and daily care practices. Together with a growing number of colleagues and fellow bat-lovers, Amy has led educational presentations, hosted nighttime bat observation walks, and participated in a variety of public and private community events to raise awareness about bat conservation.
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