Science Talks- Bats of New York: Their Darkest Hour

Presented by Alan Hicks. Although there have been bat researchers in New York State since the 1930’s, the first serious effort to monitor their populations began in the late 1970's. All trends for all species were positive, until that snow covered day in March of 2007 when the DEC survey crew reached the entrance of Hailes Cave in Thatcher Park. Although they did not know it as they turned on their helmet lights, they were about to be the first witnesses to what may be the largest, and most rapid, die-off of wild mammals ever recorded. Join Alan Hicks, retire specialist for DEC for the telling of the ongoing story, and for the lessons it teaches us.