NJ OWL Bat Walk Outing at Hibernia Mine, September 13, 2001

NJ Outdoor Women's League
Bat Walk Outing
September 13, 2001

On September 13th, 2001, NJ OWL members had an opportunity to learn about bats during a specially organized Bat Walk at the Hibernia Mine on Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area in Morris County.

Mike Valent of the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife's Endangered & Nongame Species Program dispelled many of the myths surrounding bats and revealed their fascinating natural history and importance to the ecosystem.

Presently, over 30,000 bats live in the mine including little brown bats, big brown bats, eastern pipistrelles, and the federally endangered Indiana bat, making the mine the largest known hibernaculum in New Jersey and one of the most important on the east coast.

Group at cave entrance

NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife biologist Mike Valent speaks with NJOWL
members about bats before the hike to the mine.

Mike Valent with bathouse
Mike lays a bat house on its back to show where bats enter and exit.
The bats roost in between the interior slats.

Mike with bat detector
Mike holds a bat detector, a device that converts the high-frequency
echolocating calls into a sound audible to human ears.

Cave entrance
Mike uses a spotlight to illuminate the entrance of the Hibernia Mine.

Bat gate
The entrance of the Hibernia Mine was finally fitted with a "bat gate" in the summer of 1994.
This specialized gate allows bats to enter and exit the mine as they wish, but
it keeps out vandals and others who might disturb the mine and its inhabitants.

Bats flying through gate
The Hibernia mine is home to four species of bats: little brown bats, eastern pipistrelles, a
few big brown bats and federally endangered Indiana bats. It's difficult to determine what
species of bat are pictured here, but the most common species in the mine are little brown
bats. Whatever type they are, they're cool to look at!

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