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Happy Bat-urday! June 2025 Bat Release

New residents of Deception Pass Stretch their wings
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Our group of bat enthusiasts met at Deception Pass state park. Over a year ago, we had met and put up bat boxes as a major initiative with WDFW and the WA State Master Hunters.

Today, we met to add a few new residents.

1 bat - a very important bat, was Alana Greenspan, the Yuma Myotis I had caught in my attic last summer.

Her rescue was nothing short of Herculean. It involved to trips to Stanwood, and a batty-sitter while the rehabilitator was at the hospital with her husband. Then Alana’s sister, Janet Yellow, died, probably from dehydration.

Alana took off like a champ. Her injured wing bothered her no more. Fly strong little wierdo. Just don’t come back to our house.

8 New Big Browns

These 8 were NOT our bats. (Quick plug - Robby love this book by Fiona Watt) - LINK

That's not my bat…

Nope. None of these bats ‘grew up’ on Whidbey. Like Mackenzie and myself, they were transplants.

2 of these new bats were FROM KENT, WA!

Our rehabilitor friend had been delivered bats from around Puget Sound. The fact that two were from our home town was extra special.

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Unfortunately - one of the 8 was a grieving mother. While loading the fuzzy friends into the transport-tent, a dead pup was found. We have no way of knowing if the baby was stillborn or died after birth. The ambilocal was still attached.

We were told - big brown bat pups have a signature black spot under their chin. Poor naked little critter. Fly strong in the underdark!

One last pit-stop though - the bat boxes from last year. We needed to see if there were any inhabitants. Luckily, I brought my diving light (super bright.)

Taadaa! Success! We found a few species in four of the boxes! Not as crowded as we’d hoped, but a good start. Keep snacking on those mosquitos little neighbors!

Over and out! Stay BATTY! 🦇

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