Bat Field Work 
During the summer months, our staff stays busy with bat work throughout the state. Biologists rely on emergence counts (counting bats as they leave their roost for the night) to document the use of maternity sites for some of the state’s more vulnerable species.
Night-time surveys that use mist nets to safely capture bats are also utilized to confirm the presence of specific bat species at historic locations. Staff collect data for bats captured, including the species, reproductive condition, age, and metrics that help to assess overall health.
Occasionally, an unexpected “non-target” species ends up in the nets – most recently a flying squirrel! Our team patiently worked to free the unexpected guest by coaxing it onto a large tree branch, and it returned to its business unscathed.
Did you know that YOU can support the conservation of Kentucky’s native bats by becoming a member of Kentucky Wild?
Learn more and join today: https://bit.ly/3q7pt0J
