Where are the Bats?

There is no doubt about it—bats get a bad rap. Their swooping and diving through the gathering dusk frequently sends humans ducking for cover and their long association with horror films only deepens the fear.

The Scoville Library and the Salisbury Association Land Trust will attempt to allay these fears Friday with a program on bats and a count of the denizens of the Academy Building. Connecticut DEEP wildlife biologist Devaugh Fraser will discuss the flying mammals that roost in the attics of both the library and neighboring Academy Building. She will introduce the nine species of bats in Connecticut and the methods used to monitor and protect these valuable creatures as they continue to suffer from disease, habitat loss and persecution.

She will begin her talk in the Buttons Garden at Scoville Library at 7PM, providing instructions and clickers to help count the bats on their nightly flight out of the Academy Building. The group will walk the short distance from the library to the Academy Building at about8 PM. The count will begin a little before sundown (about 8:10PM). Count results will be tallied at 8:30.

The rain date is July 28th. If it rains that day, the program will be held in the Wardell Room in the Library and the bat count will be canceled. Participants should bring lawn chairs, bug spray and flashlights.