I'm a wildlife biologist who has been working in the field for a little over 30 years and within wildlife conservation for 16 years. I've worked with all manner of wildlife but have focused ... Read more
The spotted bat. As promised in the recent podcast I had with Bryan at Guidefitter, here are a couple of photos of the rarely encountered spotted bat, Euderma maculatum. This bat has the largest ears of any North American bat species, feeds on moths and small beetles, echolocates in the audible range of most humans (below 25KHz) and, as far as we've been able to docum... Read more#wildlifeconservationΒ #batconservationΒ
Howdy! Did you know there are 3 species of nectivorous bats in the US? They are only found in southern CA, southern AZ, southern NM, and southwestern TX. This series of photos shows a lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) coming in to feed on a saguaro blossom in southern Arizona. Their longer snouts and long tongues help them reach the nectar that sits de... Read more
Awesome picture and thanks for sharing Jason. I never have ever thought about bats other than seeing them at night flying overhead doing what they do. You must be an amazing person and photographer and I want to thank you for sharing and educating someone like me. I actually have a grandson that I share these things with who is 5 and he loves bugs etc so this does interest him.
*@billfox Thanks Bill! They are amazing creatures for sure. I know many have not really had the chance to see them up close so I'll keep posting photos of more species here in the US so folks can get to "know" them.
Howdy! Here's a portrait of a Townsend's big-eared bat so you can see just how large the ears are as opposed to the previous photos I posted of them roosting in mines. This one was captured in southern Arizona. The bumps on its snout are pararhinal glands. They may mark roost spots with them and maybe their pups so they can locate them in a colony. They might also be ... Read more#wildlifeconservationΒ #conservationΒ #batconservationΒ
A Happy Veterans Day to all my brothers and sisters out there. Whether hunting, fishing, or anything else I hope you had some time to reflect on your service, reminisce, share stories over beer, coffee, or even a whiskey with a fellow vet. Hope you got some laughs in too.
I mentioned in one of my previous posts that my work can be a bit, odd. Bats roost in all manner of places including abandoned uranium mines. Long after they produced their last ore for our national security and energy needs, our winged friends have sought, typically, winter shelter in them. Some of these mines are accessed by vertical openings called shafts. To gain ... Read more#batconservationΒ #wildlifeconservationΒ #wildlifemanagementΒ #conservationΒ
You rappel down into abandoned uranium mines? Good grief. I sit at a computer most of the day for my job....and of course, you help bat colonies down in uranium mines. You win! :)
Colonial American style pipe tomahawk made to support some of our US warriors out there keeping us safe. For those putting the "Warheads on foreheads" you know who you are, thank you and be safe out there!
This pipe tomahawk is done in a simpler design format that is commonly seen in verified historic examples. I used a tool steel for the head, lightly engraved it. ... Read more
Another bat photo for you all, this time one of our US bats. It is species found in the west and is what we call a cavernicolous bat meaning it lives in and needs caves, or other underground space like a mine, to live, hibernate, raise young (pups) etc. If you have ever been out in a western state, come across an abandoned mine, and looked into the inky darkness, ther... Read more#batconservationΒ #conservationΒ #wildlifeconservationΒ
So cool. I had to google it to see more pics of the big ears of this Corynorhinus townsendii. Can you post more pics of this species so that we can see those big ears? Do the bigger ears give them a radar advantage over other species with smaller ears, or what purpose do the bigger ears serve?
MichiganbowI have learned more about bats this past week than in my entire life. And I thank you for that. Really interesting.
Happy Bat Week! Just sharing some photos of these fascinating creatures, I know many of us simply see them as a silhouette in the evening sky. This photo is of a roosting Antillean ghost-faced bat hanging out, literally, in its home in a cave in the Caribbean. This is a cave we are actively working with landowner to protect. #caveconservation #conservation #wildlifeco... Read more#caveconservationΒ #conservationΒ #wildlifeconservationΒ
A crtically endangered Jamaican flower bat. We are working with our in country partners, both governement of Jamaica and another NGO, to protect the last known roosts for this bat. There are 2. Many countries don't have our system of conservation. Heck, they might hardly have any at all. In nearly all cases, there are no revenues from hunting and fishing licenses to s... Read more#conservationΒ #wildlifeconservationΒ
Very well said! So many well-intentioned folks who work to ban or significantly limit hunting under the virtuous label of "saving the animals" for example, are blissfully unaware that the NA Model for Wildlife Conservation even exists.
*@BryanK Thanks Bryan! Yep, so true. I always try and make sure folks know about the model and why it is important. Currently in partner meetings where restoration of surface waters is the topic. Bats need open water to drink thus we have an interest in seeing beaver back in drainages. As one of the first economic engines here in North America, my mind goes to bring them back, manage for restoratio... Read more
I have not posted a lot on here but was recently encouraged to do so. I am a wildlife biologist by training and vocation, more specifically, I suppose you could say I am a conservation biologist. I work with bats. Yep, you read that right. I can go hyper specific and call myself a bat biologist for that is what I indeed work as. I work above and below ground to keep t... Read more#conservationΒ #wildlifeconservationΒ