The Organization for Bat Conservation is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to preserve bats and their habitats through education, collaboration, and research. We also work with local health departments and government agencies to aid in public health issues associated with bats, and we have trained field biologists to research endangered bats.

Education

The Organization for Bat Conservation presents thousands of educational programs every year on the benefits, misunderstandings, and uniqueness of bats. Thousands of programs have been given to schools, nature centers, stores, zoos, parks, museums, and other interested groups and clubs. Programs are interactive adventures into the fascinating world of bats.

Programs consist of a slide presentation that examines such topics as hibernation, echolocation, ecology, behavior, migration, conservation, science education, and public health issues. This then leads into a discussion of how to protect bats, things people of all ages can do to conserve them, and tactics to attract them to your property or yard. Live bats are one of the highlights in each program. All the bats OBC uses in presentations are either non-releasable, permanently injured, or captive-bred bats donated from zoos to use for educational purposes.

Various programs specifically focus on local bat populations and the problems they face. Other programs compare and contrast the nearly 1000 different kinds of bats world-wide. Bat detectors are used to allow the audience to listen to and understand the ways in which micro-bats avoid obstacles and catch their prey, and communicate with echolocation. Educational material is handed out for future reference.

These programs are done throughout the United States. See our web page on Live bat programs for more information.

Conservation

OBC implements a variety of conservation programs geared directly toward saving bats. One such effort is to conduct seminars to help public and private land owners protect and/or provide suitable roosting habitat for bats. Another project is working with the Rodrigues fruit bats on the Mauritius Islands.

OBC provides members, government agencies, the media, and the public with special alerts and updates on the protection of bats and their habitats, through our quarterly newsletter "The Bat Conservation Journal", TV and newspaper interviews, and public presentations.

OBC also supports and promotes the testing of bat houses as alternative roosts. Various bat house designs have been tested by bat researchers, wildlife biologists, and bat enthusiasts and have yielded some important discoveries. Higher occupancy rates are associated with larger colony houses and an extended landing area below. See the web page on bat houses for more information.

Bat Rescue

Every season, bats face an up hill battle dealing with changing environmental conditions, disruption of roosts, and human persecution.

Each year, The Organization for Bat Conservation rescues hundreds of displaced bats through humane evictions.

Many members and volunteers have donated time and money for much-needed items (such as mealworms, syringes, heating pads, and much more). Member donations also make it possible for proper veterinary care, and permanent cages. All donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.

Research

Researchers at The Organization for Bat Conservation have dedicated many years to the preservation of bats. We have been involved in ecological research to help protect bats and their habitats since 1991.

Recent projects include surveying private and public lands for roosts, and endangered species documentation. Our research techniques consist of stretching mist nets over water and catching a wide variety of bat species foraging for insects. These bats are then gently taken out of the nets, identified, weighed, and evaluated. Some individuals are fitted with tiny radiotransmitters to aid us in tracking them back to their day roosts. By radiotracking bats to their roosts, we can gather a wide variety of information about the habitats bats need in order to survive. For example, types of trees, proximity to humans, and amount of habitat required. This is crucial information when trying to protect a natural area or specific colony or species.

OBC also tests many different kinds of bat houses to determine occupancy rates and species that use them. Some bat house designs have had tremendous success due to the increased efforts of bat researchers nation-wide.

Donation Items Needed
(*denotes items that are needed badly)

Bat Care Supplies
towels
heating pads
* theralin liquid puppy vitamins
* avitrol liquid bird vitamins
glass or plastic aquariums
glass or plastic containers
* mealworms
wicker baskets with handles
tables
sterilized bone meal
* potted or cut plants
laundry basket
fruit preserves
refrigerator
incubator
* fresh or canned fruit

Laboratory Supplies
* autoclave
* brooder
desk lamps
* triple beam scale
magnifying head visors

Office Supplies
headset for phones
book shelves
computers (macs or PC)
* Mac laptop computer
Digital camera
* ink jet paper
* copy paper
desks
office chairs
* epson stylus photo ink cartridges
applewriter ink cartridges

Educational Venues
rubbermaid tubs (with lids)
* TV/VCR
banquet type tables
linen table cloth (for tables)
cash boxes

Educational Programs
wireless remote for projector
pull type luggage carts
* pet carriers
* vehicles (cars or vans)

If you would like to donate any of these items please email Kim Williams at obcbats@aol.com,

All items are tax-deductable and appreciated beyond words. Thank you!