Bat Revival: Church Provides Sanctuary for Endangered Species
Among the more than 20,000 bats who summer at the abandoned Canoe Creek Church, near Altoona, Pa., are at least 41 endangered Indiana bats. 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 around the church
where inside the winged group quietly remains 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 like clockwork every 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 to the brink of extinction because of its very specific 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, 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 emerging from Canoe Creek Church was taken at dusk by Calvin Butchkoski, of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
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