Bob and Judy were thrilled to receive the results of their August circuit of Carlin Lake. Using the new equipment from the Discovery Center, they were really hoping that our bat population may be bouncing back after some discouraging years.
And that is exactly what they learned---things are getting better!
In the last five years or so, since 2015, bats in Vilas County, plus in all of Wisconsin, had been dying off because of white nose syndrome.
In the Carlin study conducted in July 2013, a one-hour survey encountered 245 bats in a single circuit.
However, in the survey in 2015, we mourned the enormous decrease---finding only a total of 12 bats, with 8 by the Brewer property, and another 4 in the McCall/Watras bay.
Those numbers were so discouraging!
But now, in the map above, what a pleasure to see these results from the Ruch's survey for July 2020!
(Isn't it great to have some good news from 2020?)
Many thanks to the Ruchs for continuing to do the survey and to Carm for reporting the positive results. I actually hope I will see bat droppings on my porch again! I'll be glad to sweep them off. Ramona
Posted by: Ramona Kubica | August 21, 2020 at 09:08 AM
This is WONDERFUL news!!! I look at dusk sometimes but still haven't seen any.
Posted by: Linda | August 26, 2020 at 08:50 PM