A few of our favorite projects are highlighted below. But we’re always following our winged muses to new places, so check back later to see what’s new in the Lab.
Freefly Astro outfitted with Wildlife Drones telemetry.
Using drones for tracking bats
Flying drones to find bats? We’re testing how drones equipped with radio antennas can help us track multiple tagged bats across challenging landscapes. This new method lets us find where bats roost and how they use different habitats, all without the need for large teams on the ground. We're exploring its potential across several bat species to see how well it works in the wild.
Myotis lucifugus roosting in an abandoned building in the Park.
population dynamics of little brown bats
Believe it or not, counting bats has long been a dream of ours. Many parts of the world lack caves or mines where hibernating bats can be counted easily. In one such region, Yellowstone National Park, we’ve established a long-term monitoring program to follow populations using new technologies.
Inside an abandoned railroad tunnel where we survey for hibernating Myotis lucifugus.
Protecting ohio’s hibernacula
White-nose syndrome has devastated bats in our home state. But there are still some left, and we’re always looking for more! A big part of the our work at home is determining where remnant populations of bats are found, why bats are still there, and protecting them.
Coexisting with bats
Although populations of many species have declined dramatically, some of these endangered animals benefit from roosting in anthropogenic structures such as barns and bridges. We are currently working with private landowners in Ohio to codesign technological systems to help citizens appreciate bats and embrace sharing space with wildlife.