BATS @ The Preserve

4374 Broadview Road,Richfield OH 44286

26 August, 2021

Description

Want to see bats up close? Observe the Summit Metro Parks bat biologists in action as they study the bats at Richfield Heritage Preserve. Bats are intriguing mammals. They are critical pollinators, help disperse seeds of hundreds of plants, and eat copious amounts of insects and anthropoids. They are uniquely vital to the ecosystems in which they live and are valuable to the environment. Join Summit Metro Parks bat biologists Mike Johnson, Marlo Perdicas and Jason Whittle for a special evening program at Richfield Heritage Preserve as they study bats of The Preserve. They have been studying bats in and around Ohio for over 20 years using study methods such as acoustic monitoring, mist net and harp trap capture, radio-telemetry, caving and hibernacula studies, as well as rappelling and climbing for winter assessments.  Mist nets will be used during this special program for these biologists to capture bats for banding and collecting of other data used to study these fascinating animals. PARTICIPANTS should be prepared to be outside; weather appropriate shoes and clothes. Bug spray is recommended. Bring flashlights or headlamps if you have one. Weather dependent - a heavy, sustained rain will be cause to postpone. FOOTNOTE: Acoustic surveys were conducted last month and several species were detected. Among the bats identified are the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), big browns bat (Eptesicus fuscus), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans).  A few other interesting species were detected that require hand capture to positively confirm their inhabitance.