Nature enthusiasts of all ages gathered near the Scout Cabin in Riverside for the “Get Batty With Me!” bat hike Monday night, after the event was rescheduled from its original Aug. 7 date.
Unfortunately, the hike faced a snag even on its new date: naturalist Amy Godbey, who was bringing a special “bat backpack” that could identify bats based on the high frequency sounds they emit, was unable to attend due to unexpected traffic. Luckily, that did not stop Riverside Recreation Supervisor Alyssa Szymanski and a host of attendees from discussing and observing the bats swooping around Riverside’s trees.
“Bats get a bad rap,” Szymanski said. “They’re not as cute and cuddly as some other species.”
Szymanski highlighted some misinformation about bats, such as the idea that most bats carry rabies. In reality, less than 1% of bats have rabies (though you should still report any suspected physical contact with bats to a health professional).
Szymanski said Riverside, being the “village in the forest,” is a great place for a bat hike. Trees, bridges and the Des Plaines river offer wildlife habitats for many different species, including bats. Against background music provided by a choir of cicadas, the group walked around the clearings near the Scout Cabin, pausing when they saw a flutter of wings in a distant tree.
One attendee, Allen Goodcase, is a member of Windy City Grotto. Part of the National Speleological Society, Windy City Grotto helps preserve caves and educate people about conservation in the Chicago area.
“We’re very tuned to bat conservation,” Goodcase said, mentioning times Windy City Grotto has worked with the Field Museum or Bat Conservation International.
Fred Schumann, who attended the hike with Goodcase, has been caving for nearly 30 years. Schumann was visiting from Tennessee, though he used to live in the Chicago area.
Schumann said he appreciated the enthusiasm for bats that events like the bat hike can spark, especially among children. The children on the hike had plenty of questions for Szymanski, and eagerly volunteered when she asked them what they knew about bats.
Schumann said that kind of enthusiasm can help people want to protect bats, rather than seeing them as “the scary little creature from the movies.”
“I like seeing that transformation,” Schumann said.
Illinois is one of several states where it is illegal to rehabilitate injured bats. Illinois is home to 13 bat species, six of which are threatened or endangered on the state or federal level. Szymanski said several organizations are advocating for changes to Illinois law to make it easier for injured bats to receive care. There are also efforts to foster bat conservation. She stressed the importance of bats, which are vital pollinators, to the ecosystem.
Szymanski said the bat hike is “near and dear to [her] heart,” and that it is something she wants to try and do again in Riverside.
“We had a great turnout tonight, but if only five people come next time, that’s still five people that are going to go share the message,” Szymanski said. “I encourage people to … take a step back and, before you judge something by its cover, dig a little deeper.”