Community Science
Bats Northwest believes that all community members can be a part of bat conservation work. Whatever your background or training, you can make a difference in bat conservation. As community scientists, Bats Northwest take part in research, recordings, data collection, and the development of community science opportunities for all.
Bat Activity Trends (BAT) Community Science Program
The Bat Activity Trends (BAT) Community Science Program was designed in collaboration with Bats Northwest volunteers and launched by Woodland Park Zoo in 2022 to help answer the question: Where are bats active in populated regions of Washington? The program engages the public in bat conservation science by empowering them to collect data on bat sightings at their homes, local parks, or neighborhoods.
The program encourages community members anywhere in Washington to go out in June, July, and August to watch for bats right where they are. By counting bat passes and submitting data to the program, everyone can help us learn more about local bats and their habitats.
Long-term Acoustic Monitoring
In partnership with Woodland Park Zoo, Bats Northwest has installed year-round acoustic monitors in multiple locations to record the echolocation calls of bats. This monitoring helps us identify the species using a habitat, and the frequency of those species across the seasons. One of Bats Northwest most successful study acoustic sites is the Mercer Slough Nature Park in Bellevue, WA. We have conducted over 23 acoustic surveys in this area and will be publishing our newest data shortly. Here are our 2015 -2018 Seasonal Observations of Bat Species from the Mercer Slough.
