Alta Ski Resort was the scene of a fun and informative seminar to learn all about the 18 confirmed bat species found in Utah last Friday. The third annual event known as Alta Bat Night was hosted by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and invited the public to learn about Utah’s bats, the nocturnal insects they eat and the vital role this misunderstood creatures play in the local ecosystem.
The seminar portion of the event took place outdoors at Alta’s Wildlcat Parking Area. DWR biologist Shawn Pladas was the featured presenter and talked about Utah bats with an outdoor screen and projector set-up in the background.
“Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. They are found throughout the state and can be abundant wherever they can find food, shelter and water. Utah’s bats feed almost exclusively on insects.” -Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Mammal Conservation Coordinator Kimberly Hersey
Utah DWR biologists safely captured bats with fine mist nets and conducted surveys in front of the audience who go to examine the bats up close at the processing stations as the biologists collected data for ongoing monitoring of populations.
Participants were be required to wear an N95 mask when near the bats to help prevent health concerns to the bats. All of the bats collected were released shortly after capture and data collection.
