Bats are an important part of our worldwide ecosystem, pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and even eating fish. In Marin they are especially important for helping to control insect populations. Still, bats are very poorly understood. Bat biologist Gabriel Reyes with the USGS is leading an effort to correct this oversight. In this presentation he will tell us about a current bat study that uses acoustic monitoring and mist netting to learn more about the 13 species of bats that may reside on Mt Tamalpais and the surrounding area.

This study is being conducted in collaboration with One Tam, a group composed of the mountain’s four land management agencies. Over the coming years One Tam plans to undertake a variety of projects and programs that are vital to the health of the mountain, enrich the experience of its visitors, and cultivate and educate a new generation of
stewards.