High Desert Bats: Diverse But Threatened

Bats are misunderstood by many, but they play an important role in the ecosystem. And if you are enjoying summer nights without mosquito bites, you have a bat to thank. In the High Desert, some species of bats eat about 600 mosquitoes in just one hour.

The High Desert bat community is one of the most diverse mammal groups in Oregon. Fourteen species of bats have been documented from the cliffs and stream corridors of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a unique High Desert park along the lower John Day River and tributaries. Of these, nine are listed by state or federal authorities as species of concern, including three of the four species restricted to the High Desert: the pallid bat, spotted bat, and Western small-footed myotis.

In 2002, the National Park Service began a systematic inventory of bats and other species in the park. This effort, in conjunction with a broader bat inventory coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service, has added greatly to our understanding of the diversity and conservation status of Oregon High Desert bat communities.

This Saturday, August 28, you can join biologists from the Deschutes National Forest to learn more about the fascinating bats of Central Oregon. And, outside after sunset, use special acoustic equipment (“bat detectors”) to record bat calls and identify species!
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Call to reserve your spot: 541-382-4754 ext. 241.