#06–198 July 31, 2006

Southeastern Bat Blitz set in S.C. mountains Aug. 6-10

The 2006 Southeastern Bat Diversity Network Bat Blitz will be held Aug. 6-10 in the mountains of South Carolina, hosted by U.S. Forest Service, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

A number of Southeastern state natural resources agencies will take part in the Bat Blitz. The base camp for this year’s Bat Blitz will be at Camp Chatuga near Mountain Rest in Oconee County.

The Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund is also providing support for the Bat Blitz. For more information on the Aug. 6-10 Bat Blitz, visit the Web site www.sbdn.org/meetings.html#anchor2 or call (864) 656-4865 in Clemson.

A Bat Blitz is a coordinated, intensive effort by regional bat biologists to document the bat community of a particular area during a short time period. It also serves as a training opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students and state and federal agency personnel. Participants are put on teams consisting of a team leader and three to four team members. Possible survey sites include National Forest lands in South Carolina and Georgia, Buzzard Roost Heritage Preserve in Oconee County, Duke Energy lands in conservation easement with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, and private land.

The Southeastern Bat Diversity Network was founded in 1995 at the North American Symposium on Bat Research. Bat biologists, land managers and others interested in the conservation of bats that occur in the southeastern United States constitute the membership. The Southeastern Bat Diversity Network was formed to facilitate communication within the region, identify priorities and needs specific to the Southeast and develop and implement programs that address regional bat conservation needs. The 16 states included within the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network are: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

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