Public Bat Day & Evening Bat Capture Event - Mammoth Cave KY, Sept 5

Location: Mammoth Cave National Park

Visitor Center: Kids Activities
Amphitheater: Professional Presentations
Historic Entrance (6PM): Live Bat Viewing and Survey with BCM

Join us for Bat Day at Mammoth Cave National Park Saturday September 5 for a full day celebrating the incredible world of bats. Engage with our expert speakers on various topics, from protecting bat habitats in national parks to the science behind successful conservation strategies. It's an excellent opportunity for all ages to learn and connect with our winged friends!

Bat researchers and biologists will discuss bat biology, monitoring techniques, and provide on-site demonstrations of how they capture, evaluate, and record a bat’s health. Events and activities are all day and finish with a live bat capture session until 9 p.m. CDT. 
 
“Bat Night is a great experience for visitors of all ages to get out and learn how important bats are to Mammoth Cave and our ecosystem,” said park Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “It is not often that we have an opportunity to see these amazing creatures up close with bat experts and biologists on hand to share their knowledge.”
 
Bat Night will kick off at the visitor center where visitors can complete a Being a Bat Biologist Junior Ranger activity with bat biologist and Ball State University professor Dr. Tim Carter and some of his students. Artist, Emili Ryan, will also be on hand to provide face painting for our younger visitors. Activities at the visitor center will last until 3 p.m.
 
At 2 p.m. presentations by bat experts will begin at the outdoor amphitheater. Dr. Merlin Tuttle of Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation is the featured speaker. Visitors are welcome to listen to additional speakers such as Bat Speak – Identifying Bats by How They Communicate by Professor of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt and lead developer of the Sonobat Bat Call Analysis Software Joe Szewczak, Chasing the Night Flyers – Bat Stories from the Field by biologist Keith Christenson, and Bats of Mammoth Cave National Park and How We Study Them by biologist Dr. Tim Carter. A full agenda with additional speakers and times will be available soon.
 
John Chenger of Bat Conservation and Management organizes the live bat data collection which will take place from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on the River Styx Trail at the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave. Bat researchers and biologists will demonstrate how different tools are used to monitor bat movements and health. They will use night vision cameras, infrared thermal cameras, live acoustic monitors, and mist netting to identify bats exiting the cave for the evening. The survey is part of an ongoing long term bat study now over 15 years.
 
All Bat Night events are free and do not require reservations. Participants are advised to bring a small flashlight to illuminate the pathways to and from the Mammoth Cave Historic Entrance. Bat Night activities will be cancelled in the case of severe weather.
 
Bat Night is made possible by support from Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park who work in cooperation with the National Park Service to fund projects and programs that protect, preserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, and the visitor experience of Mammoth Cave National Park.
 
For a complete schedule of events, presenters, and Bat Night activities, visit the Bat Night page on the Mammoth Cave National Park website. If you plan to participate in all Bat Day activities and wish to also tour Mammoth Cave, consider overnighting nearby and reserving one of the many tour options Friday or Sunday, but reservations are strongly suggested.