Bats (Illustration: Ocean County Library)
It’s the time of year when many Shore residents may be encountering their favorite winged mammals, both in the form of Halloween decorations as well as those fluttering about in the skies outside our homes. When it comes to the latter – actual bats – there is a great opportunity to learn more about the species with which we share skies (and sometimes homes).
The Brick Township branch of the Ocean County Library is hosting a program on the local bat population, including the opportunity for anyone to become a “bat buddy.”
“Do bats deserve their reputations for spookiness?” a flyer on Oct. 10 the event asks. “Did you know that they benefit people, and that right now they need our help?”
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The program will be led by biologist Leah Wells of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Wells will familiarize attendees with these fascinating mammals, the benefits they provide, common myths and misconceptions, the threats they face, bat-centric projects of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation (CWF), and what local residents can do to keep them around and healthy.
Wells holds a bachelor of science degree in Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources from Rutgers University and has devoted six years to the welfare of bats. Her CWF projects include the Summer Bat Count, mobile acoustic surveys and Bats in Buildings. CWF itself is dedicated to protecting rare and endangered species in the Garden State, including bats, with the aim of restoring habitat and providing educational programs.
The program, “Creatures of the Night: The Bats of New Jersey,” is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brick library, 301 Chambers Bridge Road. Those interested in attending are asked to register at https://tinyurl.com/OclBrickBats for this free program, sponsored by the Friends of the Brick Library.
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