Naturally Creepy Places Week - An abandoned church with a roof full of bats

Among the more than 20,000 bats who summer at the abandoned Canoe Creek Church, near Altoona, Pa., are at least 41Indiana bats, an endangered species. This marks the first known case of “Indianas,” as they are called, using a building for a summer residence. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has secured property adjacent to the church where inside the winged group quietly sleeps until a wonderful moment at dusk when, as if on cue, they collectively flutter from openings in the attic and cover the early evening sky.

Scientists are still not of like mind as to why the nightly event occurs, but it does so like clockwork every summer evening and at this small, abandoned church it occurs on a larger scale than anywhere in the northeastern United States. The tiny Indiana bat dwindled in number because of its very specific habitat needs for both summer breeding and winter hibernation. Canoe Creek State Park's abandoned Hartman limestone mine provides a winter home for the hibernating bats. It is the state's largest known bat hibernaculum. During summer, while the bats are rearing their young at the church, they seek a suitable area to forage, preferably a lowland forest. In this case the bats converge on what seems an ideal setting, located about 15 minutes away from the church. This is a 1,600 acre forest currently untouched by asphalt roadways and other development, and affords the bats not only a secure environment but also a nice selection of insects for their evening dining experience. It is estimated that each bat consumes about 2,000 insects a night. WPC is presently studying the feasibility of purchasing this bat feeding area as well.

The above photo of bats returning to Canoe Creek Church was taken at dawn by Calvin Butchkoski, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

In keeping with the upcoming month-ending holiday, during the week of October 18th through the 22nd, WPC Daily will feature five creepy locales and offer some scientific facts that may shed some light on these places. At the end of the week, we will invite you to vote for your favorite. The winning NCP will be announced on Thursday, October 28th.

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