Public Engagement and Bats
Bats are perhaps one of the most misunderstood of all mammals because of their nocturnal and secretive lifestyle. They often are the subject of myths that impair their reputation. To help dispel their bad reputation, we often engage the public in field trips to sample and inventory their local bat fauna. This provides a unique opportunity for local kids and adults to learn the benefits and importance of bats in their own backyard.
University of Florida Bat House & Bat Barn
The World’s Largest Occupied Bat Houses are hosted on the UF’s main campus. Two bat ‘barns’ and a bat ‘house’ are located on the north side of Museum Road across from Lake Alice on the UF campus.
The most common species living here is the Brazilian free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. The Southeastern bat, Myotis austroriparius, and Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis, also live in the structures.
More about Bat House + Bat Barn
Listen to Dr. Verity Mathis discuss the UF bat houses and their residents on the From Florida podcast, which aired 26 October 2021.
Public Engagement and the Mammal Collection
Museum specimens are frequently used to give presentations on a range of subjects including biodiversity, conservation, and form and function. These presentations have been given at public libraries, schools, the Lubee Foundation, and Powell Hall by graduate students and collections staff. The Mammal Collection also provides specimens to be used in educational displays, and we can provide often provide no-data specimens to educators for free, depending on the request and the species. By using museum specimens to give public presentations, we can raise awareness and appreciation of global biodiversity and promote a shared concern for conservation between the general public and researchers. If you are interested in having someone from the mammal collections give an outreach talk or are an educator interested in what we might be able to provide for your lessons, send us an email!
