8th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival, Milwaukee County Zoo
August 28th and 29th, 2009

Presented by
	Organization for Bat Conservation
Sponsored by
	BatCone

With additional support from

Brookfield Suites Hotel & Convention Center




AAZK-Milwaukee Chapter





Children's Hospital of Wisconsin




Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin

Critter Catchers, Inc.




Hosted by Milwaukee County Zoo

in partnership with Zoological Society of Milwaukee


For more information about the festival: www.batconservation.org or call (248) 645-3232. For directions to Milwaukee County Zoo: www.milwaukeezoo.org or call (414) 256-5412.

For hotel accommodations, please contact our preferred hotel, Brookfield Suites Hotel & Convention Center, at (800) 444-6404 or visit www.brookfieldsuiteshotel.com. Mention the Great Lakes Bat Festival when making reservations. Limited rooms with discounted rates ($99 single/double, $119 triple, $139 quad) available.

*OBC Members please contact us for complimentary tickets.

Directions        Special Speaker      Myths and Mysteries Exhibit       Cost        Sponsors         Hotel Info.
Presented by:

DTE Energy	General Motors Corporation	Batcone

---

  Features include:
Janell Cannon
Author of the award-winning book "Stellaluna"

"Bats: Myths and Mysteries"
Live bat exhibit at the Cranbrook Institute of Science

Professional Speakers
Researchers speak about bats and bat related topics

At the Cranbrook Institute of Science
39221 Woodward Ave.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
248-645-3232

Janell Cannon, award-winning author of the book “Stellaluna,” will begin the bat festival on Friday evening at 7 PM.

Ms. Cannon will present a humorous and heartwarming program about her books and love for bats.

Thanks to General Motors for funding this evening with Janell Cannon!
Pre-registration
248-645-3232 to register or order your tickets online.

Order your copy of Stellaluna to be signed by Ms. Cannon

10 AM to 6 PM

See live bats from around the world, including Michigan’s insect-eating bats, vampire bats, and giant fruit bats. Additional events include kids activities, live animal programs, a gift store, educational exhibits, and more.

Schedule of days events

11 am Nature Into Art: Find out what goes into creating art in a field guide to mammals and learn about the artist’s travels. Presenter: Fiona Reid (Author, Artist) Program location: Auditorium

11 am Nuisance Bats:Bats may occasionally inhabit human dwellings. Learn ways to humanely evict bats from an attic, garage, or other building. Presenter: Dave Kugler (Critter Catchers, Inc.) Program location: Library

12 pm Bats and Mines in Michigan: Mines are critical habitat for bats in the Great Lakes region. Learn key features that make mines important homes for hibernating bats. Presenter Bill Scullon (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) Program location: Auditorium

12 pm Bats of Puerto Rico: The Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico and is a Mecca for bat diversity. Learn more about species that eat fish, insects, fruit, and nectar. Presenter: Dr. Allen Kurta (Eastern Michigan
University) Program location: Library

1 pm Bat Houses and Artificial Roosts: Artificial roosts are important for bats. Learn about what makes an effective bat house and the best place to put them. Presenter: Dr. Tim Carter (Ball State University) Program location: Auditorium

1 pm Bats in Zoos: Learn about various species of bats that live in zoos, including vampire bats and fruit bats. Presenter: Dawn Fleuchaus (Milwaukee County Zoo) Program location: Library

11 am Nature Into Art: Find out what goes into creating art in a field guide to mammals and learn about the artist’s travels. Presenter: Fiona Reid (Author, Artist) Program location: Auditorium

2 pm Bats and Public Health: Do public health concerns conflict with bat conservation issues? Learn the truth about diseases that bats may contract. Presenter: Make Frayer (Milwaukee County Zoo) Program location: Library

3 pm Research the Bats of Indiana: Indiana is home to 12 different species of bats, including the federally endangered Indiana and gray bats. Presenter: Dr. John Whitaker Program location: Auditorium

3 pm Bats and Mines in Michigan: Mines are critical habitat for bats in the Great Lakes region. Learn key features that make mines important homes for hibernating bats. Presenter: Bill Scullon (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) Program location: Auditorium

4 pm Natural History of Bats in the Great Lakes: Bats in the Great Lakes region are crucial to the ecosystem. Learn about the variety,
natural history, and importance of the bats living in the Great Lakes area. Presenter: Dr. Allen Kurta (Eastern Michigan University) Program location: Auditorium

4 pm Gardening for Wildlife:Interested in how to attract bats and other wildlife to your yard? Learn about techniques and practices to incorporate in your backyard gardens. Presenter: Dawn Vezina (Organization for Bat Conservation) Program location: Library

5 pm Bats of the World: The over 1,100 species of bats are responsible for insect control, pollination, seed dispersal and more. Learn about natural history and conservation issues of bats. Presenter: Kim Williams (Organization for Bat Conservation) Program location: Auditorium

5 pm Bat Houses and Artificial Roosts: Artificial roosts are important for bats. Learn about what makes an effective bat house and the best place to put them. Presenter: Dr. Tim Carter (Ball State University) Program location: Auditorium

Additional Programs

Every hour from 11 am to 5 pm Live Bat Programs by the Organization for Bat Conservation: See live bats up close and personal in an exciting and entertaining program. Presenters: Organization for Bat Conservation employees and volunteers Program location: Outside Tent

12 pm and 3 pm Book Signing by Janell Cannon, author and illustrator of many children’s book, including the award-winning children’s book-"Stellaluna." Presenter: Janell Cannon Program location: Outside Bat Zone

6 – 9 pm Family BBQ and music: Live music and food ($5 per person for BBQ), bring chairs, blankets, and bug spray. Program location: Cabin by Rouge River

9 – 10 pm Bat Research Night: Learn how scientists study bats. Includes mist-netting live bats. Program location: Cabin by Rouge River

Ongoing Bats: Myths and Mysteries: Learn and explore the many fascinating aspects of bats. Includes an upside down room, a gothic castle, live bats, and much more. Presenters: Organization for Bat Conservation employees and volunteers Program location: Changing Hall

Ongoing Bat Store: Books, T-shirts, bat mugs, and much more for sale. Proceeds go to bat conservation work. Location: Bat Zone

Speakers:
Al Kurta (Eastern Michigan University)
Rob Mies (Organization for Bat Conservation)
Bill Scullon (Michigan Department of Natural Resources)
Tim Carter (Ball State University)
John Whitaker, Jr. (Indiana State University)Mike Frayer (Milwaukee County Zoo)
Dawn Vezina (Organization for Bat Conservation)
David Kugler (Critter Catchers, Inc.)
Dawn Fleishaus (Milwaukee County Zoo)
Fiona Reid (Artist & Author): See photograph below

6 PM to 9 PM

Family BBQ and live music. “Musical Mark” will be here to play songs from his new CD about bats. His style of performing is fun, educational, and entertaining.

9 PM to 11 PM

The evening ends with a bat experience that few get to see. Bat researchers will put up a giant net to catch local bats. Bat detection devices, research techniques, and light-tagging will be demonstrated.

  
The Institute of Science has partnered with the Organization for Bat Conservation to create a unique, Cranbrook only event! The Bat Zone will move into the museum's traveling exhibit with Bats: Myths and Mysteries. This exhibit will be a one-of-a-kind showcase of live bats that will de-mystify one of the most feared and misunderstood of all nocturnal creatures.

Cost:

The event is free to Cranbrook and the Organization for Bat Conservation members. Admission for general public is $9 for adults and $7 for kids 2-12. Children under 2 are free. Additional fee applies for evening BBQ dinner.

Lodging:

Kingsley Radisson Hotel & Suites (39475 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills) - special discounts to Bat Festival visitors of $104 per night (regular rate is $119) - call 800-KI-HOTEL (mention the Bat Festival when registering).

Holiday Inn Express-www.hiexpress.com
35270 Woodward Ave., Birmingham -(248) 642-6200
Cranbrook rate is $115 for queen bed on weekends (regular $144). Mention Cranbrook Institute of Science when booking.

Sponsored by:  

DTE Energy	General Motors Corporation	Batcone

Presented by:  

Contact:

Rob Mies
Organization for Bat Conservation at Cranbrook Institute of Science
248-645-3232
obcbats@aol.com

Previous Bat Festival Information: Check out Bat Festivals from 2002 through 2007

August 11, 2007

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

Presented by:   and  

Indiana State University Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation and the Organization for Bat Conservation

Sponsored by: General Motors Inc.

Summary: Experts from around the Great Lakes Region are converging on the campus of Indiana State University to promote bat conservation.

The 6th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival will include presentations about the benefits of bats, bat houses, bat research, bat conservation, public health, and much more. The event will feature live bat programs by the Organization for Bat Conservation and will include local insect-eating bats, and large flying fox bats from Africa!

The ISU Bat Center will also introduce their first publication, “Bats of Indiana.” The agenda includes talks by leading bat experts, conservation exhibits, an inflatable cave to explore, kids activities, story time for kids, a new U.S. Forest Service film “Caves: Life Beneath the Forest,” book authors, bat house information, and lots of bat merchandise for sale.

Presentations will run from 10 am to 5 pm at the ISU Hulman Memorial Student Union. An evening family-style barbeque will be offered from 6 pm to 8 pm at Dobbs Park on the eastern edge of Terre Haute. Immediately after the barbeque, bat experts will demonstrate how bat research is conducted from 8 pm to 10 pm (also at Dobbs Park). During the “Bat Science Night” experience, bat researchers will show bat netting, radio-tagging, bat detectors, light tagging, and much more.

Speakers: The 6th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival will feature leading bat experts including Dr. John O. Whitaker, Jr. (Indiana State University), Dr. Al Kurta (Eastern Michigan University), Rob Mies (Organization for Bat Conservation), Dr. Tim Carter (Ball State University), Bill Scullon (Michigan Department of Natural Resources), Dale Sparks (Indiana State University), Rod Foster (Stevenson High School), Mike Frayer (Milwaukee County Zoo), and several others.

Cost: The event is free thanks in part to General Motors Corporation. The evening barbeque will be $6 per person. Bat Science Night will also be free to attend.

Lodging:

Pear Tree Inn
3050 South US Hwy 41
Terre Haute, Indiana, 47802
P: 812-234-4268 · F: 812-234-4268

http://www.druryhotels.com/properties/terrehautepti.cfm

Discounted price for Bat Festival participants. Please mention the Bat Festival when booking your room.

$72/room either 2 double beds or a king bed.

Contact:

Rob Mies
Organization for Bat Conservation at Cranbrook Institute of Science
248-645-3232
obcbats@aol.com

or

Brianne Walters
Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation at Indiana State University
812-237-8294
bwalters2isugw.indstate.edu
www.indstate.edu/ecology/centers/bat.htm

Contact us for direction and hotel information and any other questions! We hope to see you there.

Saturday, August 5, 2006

Presentations: 10 AM to 6 PM (Eastern Daylight Time):

Time              Program                                        Presenter                                                                    Location

11:00 AM     Bat Conservation                         Kim Williams (Organization for Bat Conservation)  Auditorium
12:00 PM     Bats of Papua New Guinea        Dennis Viele (University of Michigan, Flint)             Auditorium
1:00 PM       Rare Bats in Michigan                 Dr. Al Kurta (Eastern Michigan University)              Auditorium
2:00 PM       Bats and Mines                            Bill Scullon (MI Department of Natural Resources)  Auditorium
3:00 PM       Wetland Animals:Live Animals) Jenny Scullon (Michigan United Conservation Clubs) Auditorium
4:00 PM      Bats of Indiana                               Dr. John Whitaker Jr. (Indiana State University)      Auditorium
5:00 PM      Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat  Alicia Craig (American Bird Conservancy)         Auditorium

Bats of the World (Live Bats!) 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM                             Tent A

Bat Predators (Live Raptors!) 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM                             Tent B

Educational and Environmental Exhibits:

Detroit Edison Green Team
Earth Matters
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan Karst Conservancy
Milwaukee County Zoo
United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Evening Barbecue and Family Fun: 6 PM to 8 PM

Evening Research and Mist-Netting: 8 PM to 10 PM

Free with admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science ($7 adults and $5 children 2-12); Evening barbecue $5 (includes hot dog or veggie burger, chips, pop, juice, or water and cookie); Evening research and mist-netting $3 or free with day admission receipt.

Presentations about bats given by Great Lakes bat experts. Live animals will be shown, including bats, owls, and more!
More information at 800-276-7074

Featuring:
• Live bat programs!
• Live nocturnal animal programs
• Live wetland animal programs
• Conservation programs
• Kids activities
• Bat merchandise and informational booths
• Evening research and mist-netting program
• Evening barbecue and family fun

The Great Lakes Bat Festival will be held at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Detailed directions at http://science.cranbrook.edu/visit/directions/

Sponsored in part by:

Fred Lavery Company (www.fredlaverycompany.com), DTE Energy Foundation, and McNabb Flooring

Cranbrook Institute of Science
July 29-30, 2005

Janell Cannon, award-winning author of the book “Stellaluna,” will begin the bat festival
Friday, July 29th at 7PM.
Ms. Cannon will present a humorous and heartwarming program about her books and love for bats.
Pre-registration and fee required.


Then join us on Saturday, July 30th from 10 AM to 6 PM with special talks by bat experts. See live bats from around the world, including Michigan’s insect-eating bats, vampire bats, and giant fruit bats. Additional events include a bat house building workshop, kids activities, live animal programs, a gift store, and more.
From 6 PM to 8 PM join us for a BBQ and live music. Evening ends with a bat experience that few get to see. Bat researchers will put up a giant net to catch local bats. Bat detection devices, research techniques, and light-tagging will be shown.
Free to Cranbrook and OBC members. Admission for general public: $7 Adults; $5 Kids 2-12; Free for kids under 2.

Event Sponsored by:
McNabb Flooring • Convention Show Services
Bat Specialists of Michigan • National Convention Services
 

Iron Mountain
August 12th and 13th, 2005 in Iron Mountain, Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Organization for Bat Conservation, Tourism Department of the Dickinson County Area, Wildlife Unlimited, and DTE Energy are sponsoring the festival.
On August 12th from 7 PM to 9 PM, interpretive iron mine tours will be given at the Iron Mine in Vulcan, seven miles east of Iron Mountain on US-2. Call to register or just show up. Fee is $7 for admission. Come travel 2,600 feet through drifts and tunnels to 400 feet below the earth's surface. Fascinating rock formations, mining history, and live bats. Bat experts will be present to give natural history information. Saturday, August 13th, there will be free public programs that run continually from 10 AM to 5 PM at Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain. Programs include live bats and other Michigan wildlife, a look at how abandoned mines in the Great Lakes Region provide critical habitat for bats, building your own backyard bat house, friendly ways to deal with nuisance bats, managing your land for wildlife and bats, bat research efforts, kids activities, a bat store and free stuff to take home.Join researchers and biologists Saturday evening for a free outdoor program at the Millie Hill Mine bat viewing site in Iron Mountain. This outdoor program starts at 7 PM. Experts will set up special nets to capture bats as they emerge. The mine is home to thousands of bats that use the underground haven to sleep through the winter.For more information, contact the Dickinson Tourism Association at 800-236-2447 or the Organization for Bat Conservation at 248-645-3232. The contact number at the Iron Mountain Iron Mine is 906-563-8077 and Pine Mountain Resort is 800-505-PINE.

Event Sponsored by:

2004 Bat Festival was sponsored in part by:  
   

The following live animal programs will be held in outside tents and will be 20 minutes in length:

Bats of the World

Presented by the Organization for Bat Conservation

10: 30 AM, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 PM, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30

South American and African Fruit Bats and Conservation

10: 30 AM, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 PM, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30

Backyard Bats

10: 30 AM, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 PM, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30

North American Bats and Bat Houses

10: 30 AM, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00 PM, 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:30

Bat House Information

On-going from 10AM to 6PM in Small Tent

6 PM to 8 PM BBQ Picnic, Entertainment, and Fun!
Fields near Cabin
Bring Chairs and Blankets to sit on.

8 PM to 10 PM Research Techniques
(Al Kurta, Rod Foster, Kim Williams, and Rob Mies)
Learn about mist netting, bat detectors, light tagging, and radio tracking on Cranbrook grounds at cabin by Rouge River tributary (across from Institute of Science). Items recommended to bring: chair, blanket, flashlight, bug spray, bat detector (if you have one), and museum admission ticket from earlier in the day. Please park in CIS parking lot and follow signs over to research area.

On going events include bat merchandise for sale, live animals in the Bat Roost, kids activities, free literature tables, informational displays from Michigan Department of Natural Resources, United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service, festival sponsors and tons of fun.

2003 Great Lakes Bat Festival in Bloomfield Hills, MI Summary

2nd Great Lakes Bat Festival Date: August 2, 2003

Times: 10 AM to 5 PM then 8 PM to 10 PM

Location: Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills, MI

Summary: Experts from around the Great Lakes Region are converging on Cranbrook Institute of Science to promote bat conservation. The 2nd Great Lakes Bat Festival will include presentations about bat benefits, bat houses, bat research, bat conservation, and much more. Live animals will be shown, including over a dozen different kinds of bats from around the Great Lakes and the world. Other live animals will be shown from wetlands and rainforests.

This event is sponsored in part by the Organization for Bat Conservation, General Motors Corporation, and DTE Energy

Price: Free with admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science ($7 adults and $5 for kids over 2);
Free parking.

Programs are 30 to 40 minutes.

10:30 AM Bat Conservation (Rob Mies and Kim Williams, OBC) Auditorium;

10:30 AM Zoos in the Great Lakes (Milwaukee County Zoo) Presentation Place;

11:30 AM Bats of Michigan (Al Kurta, Eastern Michigan University) Auditorium;

11:30 AM Echolocation (Rod Foster, Stephenson High School) Presentation Place;

12:30 PM Bats of Indiana (John Whitaker Jr., Indiana State University) Auditorium;

12:30 PM Millie Hill Mine, Iron Mountain (Bill Scullon, MDNR) Presentation Place;

1:30 PM Author Book Signing 2:00 PM Wetland Animals (Jenny Scullon, MUCC) Auditorium;

2:00 PM Echolocation (Rod Foster, Stephenson High School) Presentation Place;

3:00 PM Bats of Michigan (Al Kurta, Eastern Michigan University) Auditorium;

3:00 PM Zoos in the Great Lakes (Milwaukee County Zoo) Presentation Place;

4:00 PM Bat Conservation (Rob Mies and Kim Williams, OBC) Auditorium;

4:00 PM Millie Hill Mine, Iron Mountain (Bill Scullon, MDNR) Presentation Place;

Bat Zone Programs:
10:30 AM Bats of the World (OBC);
11:00 AM Nocturnal Animals (OBC;
11:30 AM Bats of North and South America (OBC);
12:00 PM Bats of the World (OBC;)
12:30 PM Nocturnal Animals (OBC);
1:00 PM Bats of North and South America (OBC);
1:30 PM Bats of the World (OBC);
2:00 PM Nocturnal Animals (OBC);
2:30 PM Bats of North and South America (OBC);
3:00 PM Bats of the World (OBC);
3:30 PM Nocturnal Animals (OBC);
4:00 PM Bats of North and South America (OBC);

8 PM to 10 PM Research Techniques at Millie Hill Mine (Al Kurta, Rod Foster, Kim Williams, and Rob Mies) Mist Netting, bat detectors, light tagging, radio tracking, etc at cabin by Rouge River tributary

Ongoing Events: Bat Merchandise for Sale Live Animals in Bat Roost Kids Activities Free literature tables Informational displays from MDNR, USFS, USFWS, NRCS, Festival Sponsors, etc. Bat house information Gardening for Bats

8 PM to 10 PM: Free with ticket from admission to CIS or $3 per person; Free parking.

Research Techniques (Al Kurta, Rod Foster, Kim Williams, and Rob Mies) Mist netting, bat detectors, light tagging,
radio tracking, etc at cabin by Rouge River tributary.

Contact information: Rob Mies, Director Organization for Bat Conservation @ Cranbrook Institute of Science 39221 Woodward Ave. PO Box 801 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303 248-645-3232 ext. 9 obcbats@aol.com www.batroost.com

Hotel Information:

Holiday Inn Express (34952 Woodward at Maple, Birmingham) - special discounts to Bat Festival visitors of $99.95 for Courtyard rooms and $129.95 for Tower rooms - call 800-521-3509 (mention the Bat Festival when registering).

Kingsley Hotel & Suites (39475 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills) - special discounts to Bat Festival visitors of $89 per night - call 800-KI-HOTEL (mention the Bat Festival when registering).

Hamilton Hotel (35270 Woodward, Birmingham) - $109 for queen; $119 for king or 2 doubles - (800) 334-8086 (mention the Bat Festival when registering).

The Organization for Bat Conservation, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, and the MDNR Nongame Wildlife Fund, hosted the first-ever Great Lakes Bat Festival held in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.

Nearly 1500 people attended the festival. Many were from Michigan and Wisconsin, and also included participants from 10 other states. This two day festival took place at the picturesque Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain, Michigan, August 10th and 11th, 2002.

The festival featured bat experts from around the Great Lakes Region, including Dr. Allen Kurta from Eastern Michigan University, Rob Mies and Kim Williams from the Organization for Bat Conservation, Bill Scullon from MDNR Wildlife Division, and many others.

Live bats from around the world were shown at a variety of programs presented by the Organization for Bat Conservation, and included common Great Lake insect-eating bats, and large flying fox fruit bats from Africa.

An evening event at the famous Millie Hill Mine was the highlight of the festival. This important site in the Great Lakes Region houses 25,000 bats from August through April each year.

Programs ran continually from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday August 11th. Topics included: bats of Michigan and other Great Lake states, the role of abandoned mines as hibernating sites for bats, the backyard bat house, public health concerns, bat friendly ways to evict bats from a residence, managing your land for bats and other wildlife, bat conservation efforts, and much more. The important role of wetlands and wetland wildlife was also presented.

The highlight of the festival was an evening program at Millie Hill Mine in Iron Mountain was held at 7:30 PM on Saturday August 10th, and drew almost 400 people. One of the largest known populations of over-wintering big and little brown bats in Michigan uses this abandoned iron mine. (The MDNR protected the site in 1993 by the installation of at large bat cage that allows the bats to come and go freely but keeps people out). During the evening program researchers demonstrated bat detectors-used to pick up the ultrasonic calls from bats, repelling, and captured bats using nets, to a crowd of more than 350 people. Some of the captured bats were fitted with special glow markers that enable researches to follow the bats as the feed on insects during the night. The glow markers are similar to a child's glow stick and simply fall off the bat after a couple of hours.

Throughout the 2-day event, there were kids activities, author signing, free literature about bats, videos playing about bats, informational displays, and a bat store with lots of fun stuff to take home.

When: August 10 & 11, 2002

Where: Pine Mountain Resort, Iron Mountain, Michigan

Cost: This event is free

The Organization for Bat Conservation, in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, and the MDNR Nongame Wildlife Fund announce the first-ever Great Lakes Bat Festival to be held in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.

The two day festival will take place at the picturesque Pine Mountain Resort in Iron Mountain, Michigan, August 10th and 11th, 2002. The festival will feature bat experts from around the Great Lakes Region, including Dr. Allen Kurta from Eastern Michigan University, Rob Mies and Kim Williams from the Organization for Bat Conservation, Bill Scullon from MDNR Wildlife Division, and many others.

Live bats from around the world will be shown at a variety of programs presented by the Organization for Bat Conservation, and will include vampire bats, common Great Lake insect-eating bats, and large flying fox fruit bats from Africa.

An evening event at the famous Millie Hill Mine will be the highlight of the festival. This important site in the Great Lakes Region houses 25,000 bats from August through April each year.

Programs will run continually from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday August 11th (Central time). Topics will include: bats of Michigan and other Great Lake states, the role of abandoned mines as hibernating sites for bats, the backyard bat house, bat friendly ways to evict bats from a residence, managing your land for bats and other wildlife, bat conservation efforts, and much more. The important role of wetlands and wetland wildlife will also be presented.

An evening program at Millie Hill Mine in Iron Mountain will be held at 7:30 to 9:30 PM on Saturday August 10th. This program will include information about this important mine for hibernation and temporary capture of several of its inhabitants by trained researchers. A must-see when coming to Michigan's Upper Peninsula!

Throughout the 2-day event, there will also be kids activities, including building bat houses, author signings, free literature about bats, videos playing about bats, informational displays by the USDA Natural Resource Commission, and National Forest Service, and others, and a bat store with lots of fun stuff to take home.

For further information please contact the Organization for Bat Conservation at 800-276-7074, or online at bat roost.com.

Hours will be Saturday, August 10 from 9am-5pm with viewing at Millie Hill Mine and catching bats from 7:30-9:30pm. Sunday, August 11 from 9am-5pm.

Please remember that Iron Mountain is in the Central time zone.

Directions from lower Michigan are: From lower Michigan: I-75 north to US 2 west, through Iron Mountain. Take Pine Mountain Road south (just west of M-95), the resort is 2 miles down on the east side.

You can make hotel and condo reservations at Pine Mountain Resort 877-553-7463.

If you would like to volunteer at the event please contact Rob Mies.

Sponsors include: Northeast Bat Working Group, Organization for Bat Conservation, the MDNR Non Game Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Unlimited, and Critter Control of Lansing.