There are more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide, but have you ever wondered how many species of bats call Minnesota home? Come celebrate and learn about the unique role that bats play in our world during International Bat Week at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor Center!
Who: Fun activities for all ages!
Cost: Free!
Activities:
- See LIVE bats found in Minnesota
- Bat house info and giveaways!
- What haunts our bats? Learn about white-nose syndrome and current research
- Explore the replica bat cave- how many "bats" can you find?
- Bat tracking- learn how and why bat biologists track bats
- Become a Junior Bat Scientist!
- Test your bat smarts with bat trivia and win a prize!
- Bat Story Station
- Get techy at bat survey technology station
- Batty crafts- take your home your own bat lino print card or make a bat mask
- Gardening for bats and tree giveaway
Speaker Schedule
Stay to meet a live bat found in Minnesota at the end of each talk!
Time: | Speaker: | Organization: | Talk Title and Content: |
| 10:30 a.m. -11:15 a.m. | Nicole Witzel | Hennepin County | Helping our flying friends survive and thrive Hear from Nicole Witzel, a wildlife biologist with Hennepin County, about the bat species found in Minnesota, their threats, and how you can help bats found in your own backyard. |
| 11:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m. | Melissa Boman | Minnesota DNR | Unsolved mysteries: researching Minnesota’s bats Join Minnesota DNR Bat Biologist Melissa Boman to learn about bat research methodology! Learn how recording bat vocalizations, tracking radio signals through the forest, and counting bats at sunset can help answer important questions for bat conservation. |
| 1:00 p.m. -1:45 p.m. | Dr. Christine Salomon | University of Minnesota | Bats in peril: The search for treatments for white-nose syndrome in bats Christine Salomon is a researcher at the University of Minnesota working on the development of potential treatments for white-nose syndrome, a devastating fungal disease that has drastically reduced bat populations in Minnesota. Learn about the diverse ways that researchers across the country are trying to tackle this disease, from developing vaccines, to using UV light, to harnessing native microbes to fight the fungus. |
| 2:15 p.m-2:55 p.m. | Jill Utrup | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Fact or fiction? Dispelling myths surrounding bats Jill Utrup, an endangered species biologist with the the Minnesota/Wisconsin Field office of the USFWS, will discuss the bad rap that bats get and will test your knowlege of these misunderstood animals. We will explore the facinating and beneficial traits of the bats found in Minnesota and beyond. |
Costumes:
Batty and other costumes welcome!
Did someone say Food Trucks?
Yes, we will have three!
- Aji Dulce Gourmet Venezuelan Cuisine
- Potter's Pasties & Pies
- Tomatillo Mexican Cuisine
Driving Directions
Parking:
You may park anywhere in the visitor center parking lot. Overflow parking will be at the Hilton Hotel parking lot across the street. Look for a sign that says Overflow Parking. Parking lot monitors will provide direction.
Metro Transit Blue Line Train:
Exit at American Blvd Station and cross 34th Avenue to the east. Proceed east on American Blvd East and follow the sidewalk 1/4 mile around the bend and up a small rise to find the entrance on the right.
Accommodations
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to this event for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs to Jill Utrup at jill_utrup@fws.gov, at least ten business days before the event.
Traffic Update:
Richfield-Bloomington 1-494 Closure starting 10 pm Friday, October 25 through 5 am Monday, October 28.
Please plan ahead for a highway closure on portions of I-494 between Highway 77 and I-35W. See the MN DOT link for more information on closure and detours.