01/31/18

HAYS, Kan. ­– Bats and their biology and value to people will be the subject of the Bat Fair from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K-156 Hwy, Great Bend.

The fair will begin with a presentation by Sternberg Museum of Natural History zoologist Curtis Schmidt, who co-authored “Bats of Kansas.” He will give an informative report about several Kansas bat species, how scientists gather data on them and the fight to save bats from a devastating disease.

Following the presentation, children will be able to construct their own bats, complete a scavenger hunt in a “cave,” compare bat wing spans and “capture” and measure their own bats.

KWEC will have live brown bats as well as several Sternberg Museum bat specimens on display.

The fair will also have examples and instructions on how to construct bat boxes, which can be used to attract bats to the yard, controlling mosquitoes and other insect pests.

For more information, contact KWEC at 877-243-9268.