Philadelphia tattoo artists, zookeepers team up to support bats

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Pennsylvania is home to nine native bat species, five of which are considered endangered or threatened by federal or state regulators.

Over the weekend, Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation and education of the winged mammals, teamed up with Houndstooth Tattoo and the Philadelphia chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers for a bat-themed flash-tattoo fundraiser.

The rescue group is licensed by the state’s Game Commission to nurse bats back to health so they can return to the wild.

“Conservation is very important because our overall human health is reliant on our population maintaining and sustaining for future generations,” said Stephanie Stronsick, the organization’s founder and president.

Bats play a crucial role in maintaining agricultural landscapes during the warmer months, serving as natural pest control and pollinators.

“There is a publication that directly links our loss of bats to the increase of infant mortality,” Stronsick said — pointing to a 2024 study by a University of Chicago professor that found as more insect-eating bats died, farmers used more pesticides, leading to increased infant mortality.

As people flipped through the assorted bat-themed tattoos available Saturday, Pennsylvania Bat Rescue showed off two rescues: Bunny, a big brown bat, and Zuri, a hoary bat.

Brenna Welman, a veterinary student who got a tattoo, said they were interested in how bats serve the larger ecosystem.

“The only thing I learned about in medical school is that bats are the No. 1 rabies vector. Everyone’s scared of bats, and I think they’re the cutest little animals,” Welman said.

Chris Mesi, an artist at Houndstooth, said he thought the event was a unique way to fundraise for the nonprofit.

“Getting a tattoo seems like something that is just for yourself, but it is very sweet. People are coming in because they want to help animals, which is different than getting a regular tattoo,” he said.

Douglas Horn, the shop’s manager, said the event always attracts a great crowd and is an opportunity to give back and get cool art tattooed.

“It was really interesting the intertwining of the artists and the nature aspect of things. I love seeing the creativity of the artists, and how they put it together for a show like this,” he said.

Gianna Ross, president of the Greater Philadelphia chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, said it was important for animal care professionals to support one another and exchange information.

“They [rescue] are the only ones in Pennsylvania that can take care of neonatal bats, and our bats need help,” Ross said.

The rehab sees over 300 bats a year. The animals are considered a highly stressed species and have specific needs.

“We try our very best and try to get as much funding as we can to help as many bats as we can,” Stronsick said.

In past years, the rescue has received upwards of $1,500 from the tattoo fundraiser, which covers about half the cost to feed the bats for the year.

“We are a small organization compared to other wildlife rehabilitation centers because we specialize in just bats, so our funding is only through private donations. Things like this where you can get something fun out of it and contribute to an organization are really amazing,” Stronsick said.