It’s been a long time since we updated Lucy’s blog, and we apologize. Spring and summer are very busy times for some bat people, especially bat rehabilitators. In the mid-Atlantic, where Save Lucy headquarters is located, bats start pupping (having babies) in late May and through June. Unfortuntately, baby bats sometimes fall from the colony, or the entire colony is disturbed by a predator, which causes pups to fall. Usually mother bats rescue their pups after dark, but if something has happened to the mother or the colony abandons a roost site, pups become orphaned. Caring people who find orphan bats bring them to bat rehabilitators, who care for the orphans until they’re old enough to be released to the wild. Please enjoy this picture of a rescued eastern red bat in Oklahoma. Our friend, Carol Bunyard, sent the picture. She is taking care of ‘Junior’s’ mother and is helping the mother remain strong enough to raise Junior.
According to the US Geological Service “Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats in the United States likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year, and yet insectivorous bats are among the most overlooked economically important, non-domesticated animals in North America…” Read the full press release here
The state of Ohio and New Brunswick, Canada can now be added to the growing list of affected states and provinces in North America. Maryland also identified another affected site, an abandoned mine that bats adopted for hibernation. Here is the most recent WNS map. A great friend to bats, Cal Butchkoski of Pennsylvania’s Game Commission, created and updates these maps. Thanks Cal! We know it’s very sad to be the historian of our bats’ disappearance.
Miss Hope’s preschool class made a website and raised money for WNS research! They wrote this sweet letter to Lucy Dear Lucy, We are helping to save bats that are sick. We made lots of money for scientists to find a medicine. We sold cookies. We love you and want you and all of your friends to get better. Here is our cool bat page: http://www.misshope.org/bats MacKenzie asked for donations to help bats instead of presents for her birthday. She’s donating the money for WNS research! UPDATE: Here’s a picture of MacKenzie’s cake, which she designed and made herself. Yum! On behalf of Lucy (she can’t type) we thank Mis Hope’s class and MacKenzie for their efforts.
Talk to your parents to see if any of these social sites are right for you Kidswirl Everloop ScuttlePad Imbee If you decide to join one of these groups, or are already a member, you can help Lucy by talking about bats and WNS in your groups. Please let us know how you are helping bats!
Just as we posted the map below, another version came in showing that a new site in Connecticut is infected. According to one of the state biologists, the site had lots of tri-colored bats (formerly called eastern pipstrelles). The biologists think the infected site was the winter home for some bats they study every summer. Everyone is very sad to think those bats might be gone forever.
Here is the latest WNS map showing three new counties in Pennsylvania that probably have WNS-infected sites. Over the past winter, more infected sites were discovered in Virginia, West Virginia, and Ontario. Plus, scientists found infected sites for the first time in North Carolina and Indiana. This is very sad news for cave-dependant bats.
Volunteers from the Save Lucy Campaign will be at at Potomac Overlook Nature Center in Arlington, VA on April 3rd from 1:30 – 3:30 to help welcome a new cave exhibit. This is a great opportunity to learn about cave ecology and the region’s bats. From Potomac Overlook: Sunday, April 3, Potomac Overlook Regional Park presents a special version of our weekly outdoor offering. As usual, “Meet me on a Sunday” activities will include games, show and tell items refreshments between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. On April 3, also enjoy information and exhibits on bats and caving, Meet Save Lucy’s volunteers, a fantastic juggler, and “mini tours” of our new “Kids Cave” (family discovery “nook” in the nature center). Don’t forget . . . “Meet me on a Sunday” happens every Sunday, 1:30 – 3:30! If you have any questions, call 703-528-5406Visit Potomac Overlook for more information and directions. Save Lucy volunteers will also be at Fairfax County’s Earth Day – Arbor Day celebration at the Fairfax County Government Center on April 16 from 11am – 2pm. The government center is at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035. More information is available from Clean Fairfax
Your Mission With your parents, or another responsible adult, monitor a bat box or barn colony. Try to count the bats as they leave for the evening. Let your local nature center or wildlife rehabilitator know where the colony is.
Your Mission Help a bat rehabilitator by making pouches or quilts.