Bat Week in Missoula

Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na, BAT WEEK! In case you've been missing out, we're here to inform you that there is an international celebration every fall focusing the spotlight on bats and their importance in our ecosystems. This year, Bat Week took place from October 24-31, 2024. And here in Missoula, the National Wildlife Federation's Montana education team put together three events to get our community excited about Montana's 15 native species of bats!

The week kicked off with a pint night fundraiser & celebration at Cambie Taphouse + Coffee. We set up a table filled to the brim with activities and spent the evening dishing out coloring sheets, posters, and bat trivia. Meanwhile, our generous hosts donated $1 from each drink throughout the evening to support our Montana education programs. The room was filled with warmth, fun, and excitement-all particularly welcome on a chilly fall evening!

Our bat-tastic spread of activities at pint night! Credit: Eliza Lindley A room full of happy builders! Credit: Eliza Lindley

Just a few days later, we took to the market. It was the Montana education team's final appearance at the Missoula Clark Fork River Market for the year, so we made sure to bring all things Garden for Wildlife^® and all things bats. During a gorgeous day at the park, we had a fantastic time testing market-goers on their bat knowledge and chatting with them about creating habitat in their space.

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the bat house workshop we hosted in partnership with Missoula Urban Demonstration Project-the final installment in our Habitat Stewards series for the year! On a bright Sunday morning, twenty-one community members arrived at Home ReSource to learn about our local bats and build them a backyard home.

A trio of sisters show off their carpentry skills. Credit: Eliza Lindley

Bat houses provide both cover from the elements and places to raise young, meaning that they align with two of the components of habitat essential to gardening for wildlife. Given this connection, we gave a brief overview of the GFW program before diving into specifics on Montana bat physiology and benefits, as well as the threats they face and how we can help. Ten of the workshop attendees were kids, who received their own special bat talk before having the opportunity to transform into bats themselves (in other words, color a bat mask)!

Then, it was time to build. Each group left with a masterfully assembled bat house and the knowledge they needed to properly prepare and install it. A room filled with families, couples, and solo bat lovers alike made for an exceptional morning of habitat creation.

The week's festivities made one thing abundantly clear: Missoulians love their furry, flying friends! We had the time of our lives, and we're already looking forward to making next year's celebrations even bigger and battier :)

Want to make sure you don't miss out on amazing events like these? Follow us on Instagram at @gardenforwildlifemissoula, or on Facebook at Garden for Wildlife Missoula, to stay up to date on all of our upcoming activities-and wildlife fun!

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