Fulton County Soil and Waste Associate Supervisor Valerie Gordon welcomed visitors last Wednesday to her rural home west of Rochester, as Indiana DNR representatives Tim Shier and David Wile installed two acoustic bat monitors.
Fulton County is now one of many counties throughout Indiana participating in the acoustic bat survey that will identify, track, and gather data regarding bat migration.
Shier said the monitors will be collected in October, where the data will be recorded in a statewide database.
Around 10 bat species are said to be found in Indiana, with seven or eight being more commonly found. The most important job bats do for this area is pest control. Shier explained that it's been estimated bats save the agricultural industry in the US more than five billion dollars annually in pest control. Because of this, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared a policy to protect the bats during mating season, stating tree clearing can only occur during inactive bat season. Currently, the inactive bat season is from October 1 to March 31.
You can learn more about the importance of bats in next month when the Kewanna Union Township Public Library will be hosting two events on October 18 at 11 a.m. and October 19 at 5:30 p.m. with Tony Carroll, DNR Wildlife Biologist. Attendees will also be able to make and take their own bat homes.
Get the most recent Fulton County Post headlines delivered to your email. Go to fultoncountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.
