Bats of Neda Mine

Shy and secretive by day, but with more aerial agility than birds and the predatory ferocity of a polar bear by night, bats are amazing animals.  They make up 20% of the world’s mammal diversity!  Bats benefit us, share our neighborhoods and sometimes even our homes, but in recent years have faced a grave threat.  South of Mayville, Neda Mine State Natural Area is one of the largest little brown bat hibernation sites in North America.  Join Jennifer Redell, conservation biologist with the WI DNR’s Bat Program to learn about your neighborhood bats and what is being discovered about them.  Virtually explore Neda Mine from the comfort of your chair!  Hear how it is one of three mines in Wisconsin that are showing some promising signs of bat population recovery after dramatic losses from White-nose Syndrome.

This event is FREE!

About the presenter

Jennifer Redell
Conservation Biologist/Cave & Mine Specialist— WI Bat Program
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Not only a dedicated bat biologist, Jennifer Redell is also the adventurous cave & mine specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).  She can often be found crawling through muddy caves, paddling water-filled mines, or rappelling into dark crevices in search of Wisconsin’s threatened bat population.  Her work has included developing the comprehensive Wisconsin Cave & Mine Catalogue, helping protect hibernating bat species under state law, and tracking bats on the summer landscape in order to understand their habitat needs.  In addition to coordinating bat education and outreach, as part of the WDNR’s Bat Program she collaborates with researchers across North America to wage a critical battle with White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease devastating hibernating bat populations.