Mammoth Cave National Park is home to nearly 160 animal species, including several species of bats.

To satisfy the curiosity of visitors who want to learn more about the fuzzy flying mammals, the park will host its 10th annual Bat Night on Saturday.

“Bat Night is an annual event that celebrates everything bats,” said Molly Schroer, the park’s public information officer. “Bat specialists and biologists will be at the park to discuss how we monitor bats and check on their health and why they are important to our environment. It’s a great way to get the word out about bats.”

The park is home to a total of 13 bat species, with eight or nine of those species using the dark, damp passageways of the cave during the winter hibernation season or during times of maternity. Other species use trees and other structures across the park and rarely go into the caves.

Schroer said three of the species at the cave – the Indiana bat, gray bat and northern long-eared bats – are listed as federally endangered or threatened species.

Bat Night activities will begin at 1 p.m. at the visitors center for Junior Rangers. Dr. Tim Carter and students from Ball State University will speak about what it’s like to be a chiropterologist, a biologist who studies bats, and artist Emili Ryan will provide face painting. 

Presentations by bat experts will begin at 2 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater. Presentations topics are “Bats of Central America,” “Bat Speak, Identifying Bats by How They Communicate,” “Chasing the Night Flyers, Bat Stories from the Field” and “Bats of Mammoth Cave National Park and How We Study Them.” 

Schroer said one of the most popular activities during Bat Night is the Bats In-Hand-Capture and Data Collection, an onsite demonstration from 7 to 9 p.m. at the River Styx Trail near the Historic Entrance.

Bat-friendly mist netting is used to capture and gently examine the bats that emerge from the cave. The data is then used to help the park scientists better understand the diversity and health of the bats at the cave, according to information on nps.gov.

“After the researchers capture the bats, they will weigh them, measure them and figure out what type of bat it is in front of the visitors,” Schroer said. “It’s a really unique opportunity to see the bats and safely view them while they are in the hands of a biologist.” 

Schroer said that the event wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of the volunteers, researchers and biologists who help with Bat Night.

“We are so grateful for those who give their time and share their knowledge of bats with the public,” she said. 

For more information about Bat Night, visit https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/bat-night.htm.