UTAH, July 30, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources is inviting the public to possibly see bats, up close, in the wild during two planned catch-and-release events.
Utah is home to 18 confirmed bat species, and the Utah DWR’s plan for the events is to capture bats, note their species and assess their health, then release them back into the wild.
“During these surveys, biologists use special nets — often placed near the water — to snare bats as they swoop down to eat insects,” an agency news release says.
“The biologists then quickly detangle the bats from the nets, identify the species, gather other health information and release the bats back into the wild. At two upcoming events, members of the public will have the opportunity to take a close look at the bats before they are released.”
Alta event
The first event will be held Friday, Aug. 16 from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m at the Alta ski area at the Wildcat Base parking lot. Alta is in Salt Lake County.
Attendees will hear an informative, outdoor presentation about bats. Then they will go to the area where the netting survey will take place and will have a chance to see bats up close. Participants will be required to wear an N95 mask when near the bats to help prevent health concerns to the bats.
Masks will be provided or participants can bring their own. Participants should bring a camp chair and small flashlight or headlamp, because it will be very dark.
While the event is free, participants are encouraged to register in advance on Eventbrite, as the event is weather dependent.
Mammoth Cave event
The second event will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Mammoth Cave, approximately 5 miles northeast of Duck Creek Village, in Kane County.
Around sunset, attendees will gather under the ponderosa pines to hear an informative presentation about bats. Nets will be placed near the mouth of the cave, and attendees should have a good chance of seeing bats and learning more about them from the biologists conducting the survey.
Similar to the first event, participants will be required to wear an N95 mask when within 6 feet of the bats to help prevent health concerns to the bats. If you attend the event, you should bring a camp chair and a small flashlight or headlamp as well. Register in advance for this free event on Eventbrite.
“Bats are an incredibly important part of our ecosystem,” said Scott Root, DWR Central Region Outreach manager, in the released statement.
“They are often misunderstood, and sometimes feared, when they don’t need to be. We are excited to provide more information about these unique animals and hopefully the chance to see them up close at two upcoming events being held around the state.”
