Bats are one of the most unique and multifaceted mammals in the world, yet they are one of the most misunderstood. 

In honor of International Bat Night Out, the Backcountry Wilderness Area Fund is partnering with Apex Clean Energy and Copperhead Environmental Consulting to educate residents about bats on Aug. 25 and 26. 

“People just don’t think about bats outside of horror movies and things that freak them out,” said Ryan Henning, vice president environmental at Apex Clean Energy and Highland Ranch resident. 

Apex Clean Energy works to deliver carbon solutions and pioneer new development of clean energy technology. 

As part of the renewable energy sector, the company created the Apex Conservation Grant Program, which contributes a sum of money proportional to the size of the project to support local and regional wildlife conservation efforts. 

An unequivocal impact the wind energy industry faces are the fatalities to birds and bats. 

When thinking about how he could incorporate the conservation grant program concept to his community, he thought about the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Henning’s son had volunteered with the organization during high school and became an employee. 

“There is a small niche of people across the United States and world that have an interest in bats,” said Henning. 

Just before the COVID-19  pandemic, Henning approached the Backcountry Wilderness Area with a bat conservation project that would break down phobias about the species and serve as an educational program for families, especially kids. 

Lindsey McKissick, the Backcountry Wilderness Area outreach coordinator, said providing kids with the correct information is important so they can grow up with a conservation-focused mindset. 

Although Colorado does not have a high population of bats, the state is in a migration corridor and in the spring of 2022, Henning and his team put in three BrandenBark structures and three Rocket Box artificial bat roost structures  to help attract bats and provide a place for them. 

The BrandenBark structure, which is essentially a telephone pole with artificial bark on the top to mimic the loose bark on a tree where bats often stay after foraging, was developed and trademarked by Copperhead Environmental Consulting. 

Gregg Janos of Copperhead Environmental Consulting and Goni Iskali of Apex Clean Energy, both bat biologists, will be joining Henning on a public panel discussion at Living the Dream Brewing, located at 12305 N. Dunmont on Aug. 25 starting at 7 p.m. 

They will be speaking about the structures used in the backcountry, the types of bats seen in Colorado, and educate the public about their ecological benefits. 

Not only are bats one of the biggest pollinators for the plant that makes tequila, said Henning, they eat insects  and can keep pesticides off of crop fields. 

Starting at 4 p.m. on Aug. 26, the community is invited to come to the Backcountry Base Camp to visit the bat habitat and learn about the purpose of the structures from the experts. 

There will also be hands-on activities for families and kids such as using audio technology called Echo Meter Touch 2 that suggests the bat species based on the ultrasonic bat call, as well as coloring tables and example displays on how to catch a bat. 

Then from 6 to 7 p.m., Nature’s Educators, a wildlife education nonprofit, will bring some nocturnal animals that were either born into captivity or rescued as part of their Creature’s of the Night program.

The second night event will be $10 per car registration. Registration is available at https://hrcaonline.org/about-us/guides-communication/calendar-schedules/event-details/artmid/13899/articleid/3534/evr/1/preview/true. 

“This is a really unique opportunity for us to gather the community to do both conservation work and environmental education in one place,” said McKissick.