Arizona Bat Blitz!

Bats get caught in the mist nets as they swoop down to drink. We carefully remove them from the net, collect and record data, and safely release them. Here Troy Maikis, Mojave National Preserve Biological Technician, removes a bat from a mist net.

NPS photo

In mid-June 2017, staff and representatives from six national parks met in a remote area of Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona to discuss one thing: Bats! Most of the parks are part of the Mojave Desert Network, and they share similar challenges in managing bat populations. The group talked about important threats to bats, current monitoring in participating parks, and future plans and needs in each park. Some other topics included decontamination procedures for white-nose syndrome and implementing the NABat monitoring plan.

Western mastiff bat

NPS photo

Staff participated in important bat-centric activities:

• Training for bat detector deployment
• Setting up mist nets
• Update from Pacific West Regions’ WNS Response Coordination Team
• Exhibit of new bat monitoring equipment

---

Left to right: Crew sets up mist nets. Arizona Game and Fish Department swabs a Pallid bat to  determine if it carries the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. Another crew sets up mist nets before the sun sets.

NPS photo

To learn more about the Mojave Desert Network and BatBlitz, e-mail us, or visit our website.