GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Learn the difference between myth and fact in the Florida Museum of Natural History’s newest exhibit “Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats,” opening May 19. The exhibit offers visitors insight into one of nature’s most misunderstood animals through lifelike models and interactive elements.

Hear like a bat
Visitors will have the opportunity to point two bat ears around the room to experience sound as a bat would in the “Masters of the Night” exhibit, on display at the Florida Museum in Gainesville May 19-Sept. 16, 2018. ©Photo courtesy of Evergreen Exhibitions

Some of these displays include a world map where visitors can guess how many bats live in an area, a scale showing how much bats eat and a pair of ears visitors can use to hear like a bat. The exhibit seeks to dispel myths and inform guests about the ecological importance of the only true flying mammal.

“It’s easy to forget how vital bats are to the health of our environment and economy, because they fly at night so we don’t typically see them,” said Jonnie Dietz, Florida Museum exhibit developer. “Some are important pollinators of foods like chocolate, avocados and mangos, while others are predators of insects like mosquitoes, moths and beetles.”

Guests will also have the opportunity to learn about Florida’s 13 native bat species by viewing real specimens from the museum’s collection and inspecting a scale model of the University of Florida’s new bat barn, completed in February 2017. The exhibit also includes 3-D scans of bat skeletons from around the world.

Admission to “Masters of the Night” is $7.50 for adults; $6.50 for Florida residents, seniors and college students; $5 for ages 3-17 and free to museum members and UF students with a valid Gator 1 card.

This exhibit was created by Evergreen Exhibitions and the Florida Museum will display the exhibit through Sept. 16.

For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/bats or call 352-846-2000.

-30-

Writer: Nikhil Srinivasan, 352-273-2034, nsrinivasan@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Jonnie Dietz, 352-273-2048, jdietz@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media Contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu