Mammoth Cave National Park celebrating Bat Day on September 5th

MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK, Ky. – Mammoth Cave National Park is inviting the public to learn a little more about some of the smallest, but very valuable members of their ecosystem…bats.

While usually hidden from the public eye inside the cave, and in surrounding trees, bats are incredibly important for the park, performing duties that help keep the natural habitat in check.

“One is insect control. They’re out at night eating the mosquitoes and other flying things that can impact our forests, our crops, and even our human health. They also are a key player in the cave itself. They bring in outside nutrients in the form of their guano back to creatures that might not ever leave the cave. Things like our Kentucky cave shrimp or the crayfish. Those nutrients that the bat brings in are what those animals depend on to survive” said Molly Shroer, a Ranger with Mammoth Cave National Park.

On September 5th, Mammoth Cave will be holding Bat Day, celebrating the small residents of the park, with visitors, giving spectators opportunities to learn more about the bats with special guests, and activities so the public can come to understand these often misunderstood creatures.

“It’s a day that we celebrate everything that there is to know about bats. We invite the public to come in to become bat ambassadors to learn more about these often misunderstood creatures, dispel some myths about them, and figure out how they actually impact our lives” Shroer said.

It all ends with what some say is one of the most entertaining events of the year.

In the evening, volunteers and researchers will be catching bats as they move through the cave and surrounding areas, giving visitors an up close encounter with these mammals and also allowing researchers and opportunity to track the health and condition of the 13 different bat species that call Mammoth Cave home.

“Part of that day is actually collecting that research. We’re collecting bats in hand and looking at the data for the different types of bats and the numbers to figure out the health of the bats here at Mammoth Cave” Shroer said.

If you would like to know more about Bat Day and the events planned throughout the day, you can click here.