Bats aren’t so bad after all: Learn more at Phoenix workshop

The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites the public to attend a free bat workshop on Wednesday, July 16, to find out more about these shy, misunderstood creatures.

The workshop will provide an opportunity for the public to watch an amazing sight as thousands of Mexican free-tail bats exit their roost for the evening at Phoenix’s largest bat colony, near the Biltmore area. The program will begin at 7 p.m. with a talk by bat biologists and an opportunity to see live bats up close. Participants will then watch the mass exodus using special night vision and ultrasonic sound equipment to hear the bat’s inaudible echolocation sounds.

“Bats are plagued by so many inaccurate myths,” says Nancy Renison, Arizona Game and Fish Department bat biologist. “But, they do so many good things like helping protect agricultural crops and our backyards from being overrun by pesky insects.”

Those attending the workshop should park in the retail parking lot on the southwest corner of 40th Street and Camelback Road, walk north along 40th Street, and then proceed west on the north side of the canal until they reach the Maricopa County Flood Control District tunnel. The tunnel is approximately ½ mile from 40th Street. It will be marked with signage. The public is encouraged to arrive with ample time: The bats leave at sunset and won’t wait!

For more information about bats in Arizona, visit www.azgfd.gov/bats.