Ongoing Bat Conservation Effort at Montour Preserve

On Tuesday, October 30th, at 9 a.m., Pennsylvania Game Commission's wildlife disease technician, Robyn Crouthamel, led a collaborative effort to enhance bat habitats at Montour Preserve. Joined by members of Montour Area Recreation Commission (MARC) and Vernal School, the team installed two new bat boxes designed to provide safe roosting sites for local bat populations.

 Bats play a crucial role in ecosystems and offer numerous benefits, making their conservation vital. Natural pest controllers, bats consume vast quantities of insects, including agricultural pests and mosquitoes. A single bat can eat hundreds of insects in one night.  

Bat populations in Pennsylvania have faced significant declines in recent years, primarily due to white-nose syndrome (WNS). This fungal disease, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, affects hibernating bats, resulting in severe mortality rates. The six bat species that hibernate in Pennsylvania have experienced a 99% decline. The little brown bat, once abundant in the state, has seen its numbers drop by more than 90%, leading to its classification as an endangered species in 2019.

Robyn Crouthamel noted that the new bat boxes installed at Montour Preserve have the capacity to house up to 800 bats each. These bat boxes were strategically placed in ideal locations near water sources and forested areas. This careful positioning will make the boxes appealing to bats, as proximity to water ensures access to insects, their primary food source, while nearby forests provide additional natural roosting and foraging opportunities. This alignment of habitats enhances the likelihood that bats will utilize the boxes.

The initiative at Montour Preserve aims to bolster bat conservation efforts by offering secure environments for roosting and breeding. Bat boxes serve as artificial roosts, which are particularly beneficial in areas where natural habitats have been diminished.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission will check and monitor the boxes as part of its ongoing bat conservation efforts. 

In addition to the new bat boxes, the Robyn Crouthamel will be providing a free educational program about the ongoing conservation effort to protect bat species both statewide and at Montour Preserve on November 16th.  You can register for that program by visiting Bats in Pennsylvania Presentation with Wildlife Disease Technician Robyn Crouthamel.

For additional information about bats in Pennsylvania please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Educational website by clicking: Bats Wildlife Note