Mammoth Cave National Park To Host Annual Bat Night Event: FREE Fun For Visitors Of All Ages!
Mammoth Cave National Park invites thrill-seekers to an epic Bat Night event with live bat tracking, expert talks, and family fun. 🌐 #News #BrownsvilleKY #Kentucky #Events
BROWNSVILLE, KY – Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky is inviting bat lovers to its annual Bat Night on Saturday, Aug. 31, with a full day of free events and presentations all about the flying mammals.
Bat Night events and activities at Mammoth Cave National Park, about 40 miles northeast of Bowling Green, will begin at 1 p.m. and run until 9 p.m., park officials said.
Bat biologists and researchers will “discuss bat biology, monitoring techniques, and provide on-site demonstrations of how they capture, evaluate, and record a bat’s health.”
“Bat Night is a great experience for visitors of all ages to get out and learn how important bats are to Mammoth Cave and our ecosystem,” park Superintendent Barclay Trimble said in a statement.
“It is not often that we have an opportunity to see these amazing creatures up close with bat experts and biologists on hand to share their knowledge.”
Events will kick off at the Visitor Center at 1 p.m. with the Junior Ranger activity “Being a Bat Biologist,” led by bat biologist and Ball State University professor Tim Carter and some of his students. Younger visitors will be able to have their faces painted by artist Emili Ryan.
At 2 p.m. bat experts will begin presentations at the outdoor amphitheater, including “Bats of Central America” by Senior Biologist Price Sewell; “Bat Speak – Identifying Bats by How They Communicate” by Professor of Biological Sciences at Cal Poly Humboldt and lead developer of the Sonobat Bat Call Analysis Software Joe Szewczak; “Chasing the Night Flyers – Bat Stories from the Field” by biologist Keith Christenson; and “Bats of Mammoth Cave National Park and How We Study Them” by Carter.
Visitors will also be able to observe live bat data collection from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the River Styx Trail near the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave.
Biologists will demonstrate how they use night vision goggles, infrared thermal cameras, acoustic monitors, and mist netting to track bats exiting the cave.
Bat Night events are free, and no reservations are required. Park officials recommend visitors bring a small flashlight.
Written by TMX staff, with additional reporting by Jack and Kitty Norton.
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