Can we afford to lose bats? A recent study by Eyal Frank of the University of Chicago reveals that the dramatic decline in U.S. bat populations due to white-nose syndrome (WNS) has led to significant economic and health consequences. Key Findings: Increased Pesticide Use: With bats serving as natural pest controllers, their decline forced farmers […]| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Bats are among the most fascinating yet misunderstood creatures in the natural world, and for many conservationists, a single experience can ignite a lifelong passion for their study and protection. In the two inspiring blog posts below, interns Wongani Sibande and Alison Simpanzye share their transformative journeys at Kasanka National Park in Zambia, where they […] The post Discovering a Passion for Bats: Internships at Kasanka National Park appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservat...| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Many bat conservationists know that Kasanka National Park in Zambia is an exceptional place for bats, but it is also the place that sparked my passion for these animals. In 2022, my colleague Alison Simpanzye and I participated in a conservation internship offered by Bats without Borders (BwB). This internship was aimed at providing early […] The post A Bat Lover is Born: Remembering my Internship at Kasanka National Park appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
The Kasanka Trust is a non-profit charitable institution, which secures the future of biodiversity in Kasanka National Park in Zambia. They welcome internships for students interested in wildlife conservation, community engagement, and natural resource management. Supported by Bats Without Borders (BwB, a UK-based NGO that operates throughout southern Africa), I was privileged to intern with […]| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
MTBC’s Antoniya Hubancheva Award was established in honor of Antoniya Hubancheva—the recipient of our first student scholarship (thanks to a generous gift from our first director, Jeff Acopian). This support played a key role in helping “Toni” gain acceptance into the prestigious Max Planck Institute graduate program, where she excelled and successfully completed her Ph.D. in […]| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Merlin and MTBC team members spent 19 days in Costa Rica last November on a filming trip for “Bat City” with its Director and Emmy Award-winning cinematographer, Skip Hobbie. “Bat City” will be a 15-minute educational documentary highlighting the beauty and ecological importance of bats from around the world, and Merlin’s role in protecting the […] The post Challenging torrential rains countered by cooperative bats in Costa Rica appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
“Just like the old days, eh Heather?” Kent softly clicks his tally counter as he sits in his folding chair on the other side of the largest cluster of bat houses at Stonefield Historic Site. Bats are pouring out of the bat boxes Kent began building and installing over 20 years ago. I agree – […] The post Tracking the Impacts of WNS at Wisconsin’s Stonefield Historic Site appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
Bats can use sounds in many complex ways. They can sing and even have different dialects… When imagining a bat, the first thoughts that come to mind involve flight and their nocturnal nature. Despite the darkness, they fly by in a blur of motion, expertly catching mosquitoes or other insects. The only flying mammal in […] The post The Social Language of Bats appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
It was a long road to Austin, Texas. More than five years after my first introduction to Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation as a teenager, I packed up my car to drive two thousand miles from northern California to Central Texas, where I spent the next eight weeks working as MTBC’s first Communications Intern. After joining MTBC […] The post In Conversation with Merlin: Curious Beginnings & Scientific Success appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
On warm summer evenings, as the hum of insects fills the air, it’s common to hear someone exclaim, “We could use some bats to handle these bugs!” Across the globe, insect-eating bats are celebrated as some of nature’s most effective pest controllers, and the bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas are no […] The post Congress Ave Bats Feed on a Diverse Buffet of Insects appeared first on Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation.| Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation
