Photo courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Image might not be a bat you’d see on the Bat Watch.

Bats make up around one fifth of all mammal species on earth, and are vital to the earth’s environment.

Although bats are noisy creatures, human ears can’t hear them. Unless, of course, we use a special “bat detector” that picks up the bats’ “clicks” used in echolocation! Families are invited to join the Forest Preserve District and use the device to locate bats and follow their movement. We’ll also play some fun bat games, learn about bat ecology, and find out why bats are so important!

The “Bat Watch” program will take place on Wednesday, July 30, from 8-9 p.m. at Binnie Forest Preserve, located at 38W040 Binnie Road, West Dundee.

There is no fee, but advance registration is required. Please call 630-444-3190 or email  programs@kanecounty.com to register. For more information, or to view a full list of upcoming Forest Preserve programs, please visit kaneforest.com.