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
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.
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!
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