Event
Bats Over Boxley
Fee:
Free.Location: LAT/LONG: 35.989890, -93.399873
From the intersection of Hwy. 21 and 43 in Boxley, take Hwy. 43 north for 1 mile. Turn on the gravel drive on the right side of the highway just past the Mill Pond, next to a brown and tan stone house. Park in the grass between the wooden gate and the highway. If coming from Ponca, take Hwy. 43 south for 4 miles to the gravel drive next to the brown and tan stone house on the left, just before the Mill Pond. Park in the grass between the wooden gate and the highway.
Dates & Times
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Description
Cave Mountain Cave near Boxley Valley serves as one of the most significant hibernacula in the southeastern United States for endangered gray bats. Annually, in mid- to late March, these bats awaken by the hundreds of thousands and zip down the Buffalo River corridor to feast on insects each evening, building up strength and energy for a long flight back to their summer roosts.
Join Ranger Lauren at the Boxley Mill Pond on Saturday, March 23, at 7:00 PM for an interpretive talk about caves, karst, and the life history of bats. Using acoustic bat detection devices, we will identify the types of bats flying overhead at the Mill Pond at dusk.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on if you prefer not to stand. Parking available in the gravel lot by the Boxley Mill and historic fishing cabins. Flashlights or headlamps recommended for the short walk between the parking lot and the program area.