Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

For this last day of #BatWeek, let's go back to the beginning of October when OSMRE ecologist Brian Dailey was attending the 2024 National Bat Gating Workshop 🦇 These workshops have been bringing together the United States' best cave and mine gaters since 1997 and together they've built more than 1,000 successful entrance gates - to safely keep people out while protecting bat habitats! While at the national workshop, participants learn how to assess and enhance bat hibernacula, understand cave and mine closure options, and gain hands-on experiences in bat-friendly gating from design and logistics to construction and monitoring. These photos from the 2024 experience show welding of removable bars on the gate to allow for emergency access and a gate completed by participants this year!

Flying in to wish you a #HappyHalloween and last day of #BatWeek from OSMRE!

#DYK abandoned mine lands and OSMRE's work are crucial to bat species and their habitat needs across the United States?! #BatWeek 🦇

Don't let this #BatWeek be spooky! After learning about these threats, be empowered with the ways you can help bats: - Turn off unnecessary lights and watch for bats. - Promote natural habitat around your home. - Feed hungry bats by minimizing the use of pesticides in your yard. - Provide shelter by installing a bat box. - Avoid disturbing bats. - Remove unwanted bats humanely. - Be a bat ambassador and spread the word. Learn more from our friends at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: https://ow.ly/bz8g50TSKE3

🦇 There are a lot of misconceptions about bats. Here's a quick list of truths and not-so-truths to help you love bats just as much as we do! #BatWeek Myths: 1 All bats have rabies. (They can carry rabies, but most do not.) 2 Bats are blind. (They have sensitive eyesight for lowlight, some have exceptional vision, and all use echolocation.) 3 Bats are just mice with wings. (They're more closely related to primates, dogs, cats, humans, and even bears.) 4 Bats like human blood. (Vampire bats may bite a human, but it's very rare.) 5 Bats like flying into a human hair. (They try to avoid people and are not interested in attacking any part of a human.) Truths: 1 Bats are the only flying mammals! 2 Second most diverse order of mammals! 3 Bats are found on almost every continent! 4 Insect-eating bats help farmers use less pesticides! 5 Nectar slurping bats pollinate the flowers they visit!

For your Sunday listening this #BatWeek, check out this Interview With A Vampire...wait... Ecologist! You can learn about the effects of surface mines on bats, ecosystem services bats provide, and most importantly how awesome bats are! Check it out on YouTube at: https://ow.ly/zJYZ50TSLa2

Hey National Park Service, what's a bat's favorite National Park? "Bat"Lands National Park! 🤣 #BatWeek

Did you know bats can reach flight speeds of 100mph?! Learn more about the only flying mammal with these 13 Awesome Facts About Bats: https://ow.ly/Tlui50TSIiZ #BatWeek

Happy #BatWeek 2024! 🦇 Bats are critical to many ecosystems and human needs. Bats pollinate, help control insects, and even disperse seeds. Although they have few natural predators, bats face increasing danger from habitat loss and white-nose syndrome, which have caused their numbers to fall dramatically in recent decades. That's why it's more important than ever to celebrate all bats do and ensure we do our best to protect them! Here at OSMRE, we take measures to protect bats who rely on abandoned mines for habitat and make sure that mining activities do not adversely impact bat populations.

#InTheNews 📰 Waste-coal-to-energy, incorporating rare earth element extraction, planned as part of reclamation in western Pennsylvania: https://lnkd.in/d-YwNAg8