Highlands Bat Blitz

Written By: Reagan Jarrett, Highlands Biological Station | Issue: September 2024

The Highlands-Cashiers Plateau is a picturesque home to thousands of diverse species of animals.

From the mighty black bear and elusive bobcat to delicate butterflies and vibrant birds, the region is teeming with wildlife. Visitors come to the Plateau year-round from around the world, excited to catch a glimpse of the stunning biodiversity right here before our eyes.

This September, the Highlands Biological Station is shining a spotlight on yet another species to get excited about: Bats!

With its richness of protected habitat and undeveloped land, the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau provides an ideal home to 13 unique species of our furry flighted friends. This fall, the Highlands Bat Blitz will bring together teams of experts and trainees gearing up to get an up-close look at this region’s bats.

Hosted by Ed Corey with North Carolina Parks, Lisa Gatens with North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Dr. Rada Petric with The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and funded in part by the Highlands Biological Foundation, the Bat Blitz is a four-day intensive research event, involving over 14 state, federal, private, and non-profit agencies. Invited researchers will set up more than 30 mist net stations throughout the region between September 10 and 14. These nets will capture bats in mid-flight, allowing trained bat biologists to carefully extract them and collect detailed information about their species, population, and health before releasing them. This event will bring bat biologists and experts from across the state together, aiming to further our understanding of the status and distribution of bats across the Plateau and contribute to broader conservation efforts.

The community is invited to observe the Highlands Bat Blitz at the Highlands Biological Station on September 12. Stay tuned to highlandsbiological.org for details.

As threats of habitat loss, human disturbance, and disease continue to impact bat populations, the importance of studying bat health for conservation is greater than ever.

White-Nose Syndrome, along with rising noise and light pollution, and expanding development are all factors that have contributed to the significant decline of bat populations locally and nationally in the last decade. Detailed data collected during the Highlands Bat Blitz will provide valuable insights for the health and status of bats nationwide, informing effective management and conservation strategies to ensure their continued survival.

The Highlands Biological Station is a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University.