Bats Archives - Wildlife Habitat Council

Underground Wonders: The Importance of Caves and Karst in Bat Conservation

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The year 2021 has been declared the International Year of Caves and Karst, designed to promote and celebrate the importance of caves and the karst topography that creates so many of the world’s fascinating cave systems. Although often located within the earth, hidden from sight, these distinctive land features benefit not only the world’s bat population, but also other wildlife and humans.

In this webinar, bat experts and advocates will take the audience deep into some of these other-worldly landscapes and discuss why caves and karst formations must be protected. The panel will highlight the most pressing threats that bats face and explain how anyone can help make a bat-friendly community, above and below the ground, during this year’s Bat Week (October 24-31) and beyond.

What you’ll learn:

Why wildlife, including bats, depend on subterranean habitats for survival, and how cave ecosystems benefit humans (such as providing water)
How to protect bat caves and how to enhance bat habitat above the ground, whether in a backyard, corporate landscape or community park

Who should take this webinar:

Corporate teams who wish to protect on-site cave or karst features, or other forms of bat habitat
Anyone interested in learning about bats or planning a Bat Week event
Agencies, NGOs and other partners interested in managing lands for bats or implementing bat education

Presenters:

Limaris (Lima) Soto, Caves and Karst Program Lead/USFS GeoCorps America Program Coordinator, US Forest Service, Minerals and Geology Management, Washington Office
Mylea Bayless, Chief of Strategic Partnerships, Bat Conservation International; member of Bat Week committee
Bat Week panel — representatives will be available to answer questions on bat biology, certification of bat projects, bat-related resources and education opportunities for Bat Week

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From Tequila to Pest Control: Learn all the Ways Bats are Vital to Ecosystems and Economies

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Bats are amazing animals that are vital to the health of our environment and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night – they are pollinators, dispersers of seeds and controllers of insect pests. In this webinar, bat experts will explore the importance of bats to the health of ecosystems and share the latest information on the links between wild animals and disease. You’ll also be updated on the new, virtual ways to participate in Bat Week 2020 (October 24- 31), the international celebration to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation.

You’ll learn:

How the more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide play integral roles in global ecosystems
The latest on bats in the news and how habitat degradation, climate change and human actions play a role in the spread of zoonotic disease
Educational lessons and activities to implement for Bat Week, both formal or informal, and how to teach others about bats

Who should take this webinar:

Anyone interested in learning about bats, teaching about bats or hosting a virtual bat week event
Regional and corporate-level managers who manage bat projects
Agencies, NGOs and other partners interested in managing lands for bats or implementing bat education

Presenters:

Mylea Bayless, Chief of Strategic Partnerships, Bat Conservation International
Patrice Klein, National Program Lead, Fish & Wildlife Health, US Forest Service
Kimberly A. Winter, NatureWatch National Program Manager, USDA, US Forest Service

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Get to Know the Faces of Bat Week

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As Bat Week approaches, meet some of the partners involved in this multi-national initiative and find out how you can participate. New this year, Bat Week puts the spotlight on five species of concern in North America – the “Faces of Bat Week.” Join us on this webinar to learn their stories and find out why every species and every bat is important.

You’ll learn:

How you can participate in Bat Week to raise awareness and take action to help bats
Get to know the spotlight species from your area and across North America
How to use the resources on the updated Bat Week website, which is launching in early October

Presenters:

Mylea Bayless, Senior Director of Network and Partnerships, Bat Conservation International
Andrew King, Fish and Wildlife Biologist , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dennis Krusac, Endangered Species Specialist, U.S. Forest Service
Frank Quamen, National Wildlife Program Lead, Bureau of Land Management
Thelma Redick, Senior Director, Conservation Content & Partnerships, Wildlife Habitat Council
Jordi Segers, Canadian National Bat White-nose Syndrome Scientific Program Coordinator, Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
Kim Winter, PhD, NatureWatch National Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service

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Project EduBat: Learn and Share About the Benefits of Bats

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This webinar is designed for those interested in teaching about bats. It is presented by the U.S. Forest Service, a partner of the Wildlife Habitat Council.

Bats are amazing animals that are vital to the health of our environment and economy – eating tons of insects nightly, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that that grow new plants and even trees. But bats are in decline and we need to heighten awareness through education. Project EduBat is a turn-key toolkit designed to help anyone teach about the benefits of bats. Project EduBat has all the tools you need inspire others to become a champion for bats.

You’ll learn:

All about bats, the conservation threats they face and how you can help them
Award-winning educational activities to engage both children and adults in bat conservation
How to obtain a Project EduBat trunks

Presenters:

Cynthia Sandeno, District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service
Andrea Futrell, Curriculum developer, Project EduBat

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Saving Bats From Decline

The Corporate Role in Preserving the Ecological and Economic Benefits of Bats
Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation

Bats are a unique group of animals with ecological, economical and cultural significance around the world. They are ubiquitous, with 1,300 species living on every continent but Antarctica. Insectivorous bats save agriculture billions of dollars through predation of a multitude of agricultural pests. Other bats eat fruit and nectar, acting as pollinators and spreading seeds of the fruit they eat, proving essential to the success of many food products like tequila and chocolate, consequently contributing to the global economy. With increased need, heightened interest and accessible technology, now is an opportune time for corporate landowners to engage in bat conservation projects.

To download this white paper, please fill out the form below.

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Be a Bat Hero: Planning for Bat Week

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Mark your calendars for Bat Week and “Be a Bat Hero!”

This webinar will provide you with all the tools you need to join the celebration with WHC and our Bat Week partners and help increase awareness about bats.

You’ll learn:

The importance of bats to our ecosystems
Strategies to protect bats and enhance their natural habitats
Fun and educational ideas to engage both children and adults in bat conservation
Free resources available for use at Bat Week events
Ways to spread the word about your Bat Week event on social media

Presenters:

Mylea Bayless, Senior Director, Network and Partnerships, Bat Conservation International
Catherine Hibbard, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Thelma Redick, Senior Director, Content and Partnerships, Wildlife Habitat Council
Kimberly Winter, Nature Watch Program Manager, U.S. Forest Service

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Enhancing Habitat Connectivity Through Corporate Conservation

The Private Sector Role in Reconnecting Habitat for Ecosystem Health and Resiliency
Sponsored by Bruce Power

Healthy habitats are necessary for plants and animals to survive and thrive. One measure of the health of a habitat is the degree to which it is isolated from other habitats by land management practices or development, commonly referred to as fragmentation. Fragmentation is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity across the planet, as it can prevent species from moving to hunt, mate, disperse to new areas or escape predators. When corporate landowners engage in ecological connectivity initiatives to reduce fragmentation, they are contributing to landscape-scale efforts that have benefits beyond the corporate footprint and across the entire ecoregion.

To download this white paper, please fill out the form below.

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Beyond the Roosting Box: Next Level Bat Monitoring with Acoustic Technology

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Take your bat project to the next level! Deepen your understanding of bat habitat and learn rigorous monitoring techniques of the bat population. During this webinar, presented by Wildlife Acoustics, Bat Conservation International, Organization for Bat Conservation and WHC, you’ll learn:

How to use the latest in moderately priced and user-friendly acoustic technology to rigorously track your bat population with scientific accuracy
How to conduct an inventory of your habitat to learn more how it supports bats

(Although designed for corporate habitat volunteers and their partners, all citizen scientists are invited to attend this webinar on scientific monitoring of bat populations and habitat assessment.)

Presenters:

Robert Gierschick, Wildlife Acoustics
Sherwood Snyder, Wildlife Acoustics
Mylea Bayless, Bat Conservation International
Rob Mies, Organization for Bat Conservation
Thelma Redick, Wildlife Habitat Council

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Amazing, Beneficial Bats – Incorporating Bat Education into Your Conservation Program

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You asked for more bats and we listened! After our popular webinar “Why Bats Matter” we received so many requests for more learning opportunities about bats, we added this webinar to our schedule.

This new webinar will explore Project EduBat, a learning experience that can be incorporated into any bat conservation program, and serves to inspire, excite, and activate people of all ages to help our amazing and beneficial bats. We’ll review Project EduBat’s new curriculum, interpretive materials and teaching resource kits, giving you tips and strategies on how to effectively use these materials on-site and at local schools. We’ll also take a look at ways you can participate in Bat Week activities (October 24-31, 2016) by “Pulling for Bats” and attacking invasive plants in your landscape.

You’ll learn:

How to incorporate Project EduBat into your conservation program
Bat Week activities you can participate in

Presenter:

Cynthia Sandeno, Regional Program Leader, Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species, U.S. Forest Service

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Why Bats Matter: Protection and Awareness Strategies

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Bats are unique creatures. They are also very valuable creatures, both ecologically and economically. However, because of historical and human threats, bats need our help. This webinar will walk you through what makes bats special, why they need our help, and updates on current threats. Our bat expert will also discuss conservation and community engagement opportunities that you can implement to protect bats and increase awareness.

You’ll learn:

What makes bats unique, from their habitat and roosting to hibernation
About white-nose syndrome and its spread
Strategies to protect bats and enhance their natural habitats
Ways to spread the word, including joining National Bat Week Activities (October 26-November 1)

Presenter: