A hike took me high into the hills on the East side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking Coyote Valley. A mixture of grassland and Oak/Bay forests overlooks a large man-made reservoir. Multiple creeks feed into the lake and provide water for a wide variety of wildlife.
About two miles from the trailhead (and about 400′ elevation gain) I encountered this two story structure “in the middle of nowhere”:
What do you think this is?
It’s a hotel for bats!
It is the Calero Bat Inn. The sign reads:
Bats are the most important predators of nighttime flying insects. Some eat more than 1000 mosquitoes per hour. Over half the bat species in America are in severe decline or are already endangered because of human disturbance of caves, sealing of mines, clearing of forests, and the destruction of old buildings. As the bat populations decline, we lose an important ally in the fight against insect pests.
The inn provides a daytime roost site for bats and a safe environment for raising their young. The “bundles” create various sized crevices with a wide range of temperatures to accommodate the needs of different species of bats. The “flyway” allows young bats to practice their flight without fear of predators.
Through awareness of both the importance and plight of bats, better conservation efforts, and man-made roosts such as this, perhaps once again America’s bats will fill the evening sky.
I’m not sure you can see the construction details on my picture of the sign. But people put a lot of thought into this project. I think that’s very cool!!!
Have you ever stumbled upon things like this when you are out exploring? Do you know of people in your local area coming up with innovative ways to manage threatened wildlife? If so, share it with us in the comments section below.
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Other articles in the parent’s corner talk about protecting wildlife and activities children might enjoy.
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