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Author Danielle M. Crosier
Published Oct 7, 2024
Searching for bats in their natural habitat with conversationalist Kerry Monahan
DANBY — Local bat expert Kerry Monahan of Hand Wing Solutions will be visiting Smokey House Center on Friday for an evening Bat Chat and Walkabout.
“This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to join,” said Danielle Zimmerman, Development and Communications Director for Smokey House Center.
“Kerry will kick off the evening with an informative bat chat covering Vermont's nine species of bats, their habitats, behavior, the impact of White Nose Syndrome, and ongoing conservation efforts,” said Zimmerman. “Afterward, participants will embark on a twilight walkabout, where Kerry will use active ultrasonic acoustic bat detectors to listen to bats as they fly overhead. Kerry will also share tips on how to help Vermont's bats, what to do if they find their way into your home, and much more.”
The event will be just one of a series in the ongoing educational programming at Smokey House Center. The initiative is supported through the organization’s Living Lab. The Living Lab aspect of Smokey House Center is dedicated to utilizing the 5,000-acre landscape to conduct applied research and learning around farming and forestry.
“We started our Explore Smokey House Center series as a way to bring experts in their fields onto the grounds at Smokey House Center, and showcase the unique elements that make this place so special,” said Zimmerman. “It's all about making the most of our incredible landscape, and we’re thrilled to continue offering hands-on experiences that connect people with the natural world.”
According to Zimmerman, it’s an opportunity for the public to discover and engage with the lands of Smokey House Center. With a blend of both forest and farmland spread across its nearly 5,000 acres – and from flora and fauna to scenic forest trails and the night sky – Smokey House Center offers much to explore.
Monahan, who previously worked with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Green Mountain National Forest, believes that this Bat Chat and Walkabout event offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with nature and learn more about the important role that bats play in Vermont’s ecosystem.
“October is Bat Appreciation Month – a chance to shed light on the misunderstood nature of bats,” said Monahan. “Moving beyond Halloween tropes, these flying mammals boast impressive intelligence and adaptability.”
Classified under the order Chiroptera, bats are distinctly separate from rodents, said Monahan. “Key characteristics [for bats] include strategic behavior and limited reproduction – typically one pup per year."
She said bats have relatively long life spans and remarkable diversity, adding, “Bats can live over 30 years.”
Globally, there are over 1,400 identified species of bats, with North America hosting between 45 and 47 identified species and Vermont playing host to nine. Vermont’s bat population consists of the big brown bat, the little brown bat, the eastern small-footed bat, the Indiana bat, the northern long-eared bat, the tricolored bat, the hoary bat, the silver-haired bat, and the eastern red bat. Six of these species are either endangered or threatened in Vermont, and several are protected federally as well.
The Vermont bat species roost in caves, mines, or rock crevices; in trees, tree cavities, or under peeling or loose bark; and in man-made structures like attics, barns, sheds, garages, and chimneys. In Vermont, the two most common bats to find in human residences or structures are the big brown bats and the little brown bats.
All of Vermont’s bats eat only insects, helping to control the insect population and reducing insect-borne diseases and crop loss. Bats reduce defoliation and help in the population growth of plants., and play an essential role in pollination.
“A bat is capable of eating their weight in insects at night,” said Monahan. “We all heard the myths that bats carry all sorts of diseases, including rabies, giving them a bad rap – but, the truth is, all mammals can carry rabies. The naturally occurring infection rate of rabies in bats has been documented at only 1 percent or less in common structure-dwelling species.”
Three of Vermont’s bat species migrate south in the winter. These are the tree-dwelling species – the eastern red bat, the hoary bat, and the silver-haired bat. The other Vermont species of bats overwinter in the state, but become less active as temperatures drop.
Monahan cautioned, “Weather permitting, multiple bat species may be observed. Please note that bats are typically inactive below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or in windy or rainy conditions.”
As the warmer weather comes to a close in our region, overwintering bats prepare for hibernation by increasing their feeding and building up their fat reserves. As the colder weather sets in, they enter a state of torpor – a state of slowed metabolism, reduced heart rate, and lowered body temperature.
During the day, bats rest, socialize, and groom themselves in secluded areas. Bats are active outside of their roosting sites nocturnally – from dawn to dusk. Therefore, the best time to observe them is when they are either leaving or returning to their roost locations. They navigate and hunt insects using echolocation, by emitting sound waves at frequencies that are beyond human’s ability to hear.
“We will use handheld acoustic detectors with sophisticated software and hardware compatible with computers, iPads, and smartphones to help identify bats as they fly overhead,” said Monahan.
A question and answer session, and guidance on bat-friendly practices and prevention of home entry, will follow the Walkabout.
Monahan stated that she hopes people will consider attending the event to “discover more about these fascinating creatures.”
Later this month, on Oct. 17, Monahan will be visiting the Dorset Village Library for another discussion on bats and another twilight walk with the ultrasonic bat detector.
To join Monahan at Smokey House Center on Friday from 6-8 p.m. for the Bat Chat and Walkabout, attendees are asked to meet at the conference barn parking lot for hot cider and snacks before the program starts. Bug spray and long pants are recommended.
“Please bring flashlights or headlamps, proper footwear, and dress in layers,” added Monahan.
Smokey House Center is located at 426 Danby Mountain Road in Danby. For further information, visit smokeyhouse.org.
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