Julie Malherbe received a call in the dead of night about a fruit bat crying in agony. The young critter was beaten out of a fruit tree, shrieking so loudly that it woke nearby residents.

"A lady heard the [bat's] shrieks, thought it was a puppy and looked over her wall," Ms Malherbe said through tears. "And she saw her neighbour smacking it out of the tree."

Julie Malherbe has cared for more than 70 bats in the past five years. Here she is pictured with Phoebe. Credit:Justin McManus

This was almost two years ago but Ms Malherbe, a Heidelberg Heights-based wildlife rescuer and carer, is still distressed by it.

The native animal had to be euthanised, but not without being driven for hours in search of a vet who was vaccinated and able to handle it safely.