Courtesy of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

WISCONSIN – Help count bats during the Great Wisconsin Bat Count July 17-19.

On any one of these nights, go out at sunset to a bat house or other site where bats are roosting and count how many bats fly out to help the DNR estimate summertime bat populations.

If you don’t know of a bat roost site, contact the DNR with your location at [email protected] and the department try to find one near you.

“Thank you in advance for making bats count in Wisconsin while following social distancing and any other local health guidelines to stay safe,” the DNR said.

Submit your information at www.wiatri.net/Inventory/Bats/Volunteer/Roosts/RoostForm.cfm.

Leave fallen bat pups alone on the ground for mom to rescue

Bat pups, particularly at big brown bat colonies, often fall from roosts this time of year. The pups can fall as they’re climbing around or accidentally get knocked out when adults shift in the roost, particularly when it’s hot. Sometimes the mother may abandon a pup if she has two and one is not doing well.

Bat pups are very difficult to care for and usually do not survive in care of humans, so the best option is to leave them be and hope mom comes down to pick them up. Pups make an audible noise and the adults know when their pup is out of the roost.