By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Things were kind of batty at the Lowe-Volk Park’s Nature Center Tuesday night as Sandusky County Park District Naturalist Debbie Nofzinger visited the Crawford Park District to give a presentation on bats.
Nofzinger started off the presentation describing how she had gotten involved in bat programs, noting that it was an accident as it was her responsibility at her first park district job to obtain animals for programs.
“I got involved on accident working at a park district as my first real job. It was my responsibility to get animals for programs and I found an ad in a nature magazine. So I called them asking if I could have the bats,” Nofzinger said. “They told me I had to read a book on how to care for them. I read the book and called back. They said it wasn’t that easy. In order to get those bats at that time I needed permission from the Maryland and Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. I also needed to get rabies shots, and then I finally got to bring them home.”
After her introduction to the crowd Nofzinger spoke about bat facts to the audience, including the evolution of bats, their grouping (mammals), what baby bats are called (puppies), and what they eat among other tidbits. While going over the bat facts Nofzinger got the attendees to participate, asking them questions on the facts before revealing the answers. Nofzinger also had a few participants come up to the front of the crowd to show examples of batwings, as well as how bats locate food.
Afterwards, Nofzinger explained her favorite bat fact.
“I think that vampire bats are pretty cool, just their whole lifestyle, because in reading about them and writing about them, they are very community-oriented so that they are cooperative. Moms will help moms and they have little daycares,” Nofzinger said. “Yeah, vampire bats just overall, and the fact that they don’t bite with their fangs.”
Nofzinger then proceeded to show different species of bats on the projector and gave even more information on the individual species.
After showing the bat pictures, Nofzinger procured a bat that she had brought along for the presentation named Vlad a Little Brown Bat. While showing Vlad to the crowd, Nofzinger spoke about Vlad’s wingspan, the lifespan of the species, and finally showed the crowd Vlad eating with multiple mealworms.
Nofzinger noted that showing the bat at the end of the presentation is her favorite part as it has more of a lasting impact on an audience.
“I think my favorite thing about doing this is having the opportunity to show people the actual bat and seeing their reactions because they are like, ‘oh they really aren’t ugly little creatures, they are actually really cute,’” Nofzinger said. “I think it is getting to share the bat with them. Because it is one thing to go out and go to a bat program and talk about bats, but when they actually get to see a live animal and put all of the facts with the little guy I think it has a little more impact with them.”
For information of upcoming Crawford Park District programs visit their website at www.crawfordparkdistrict.org, visit their Facebook page, or call the park district office at 419-683-9000.