Polk County Conservation
The Polk County Conservation Bat Monitoring Program is designed to learn which bat houses around the county are being utilized and by what type of colony. Monitoring is done by performing bat house emergence counts which entails counting how many bats exit and reenter bat houses shortly after sunset. Bat house emergent counts can vary in lasting between 25 minutes to 1 hour. Regular intervals of monitoring provides valuable insight regarding distribution, roost preferences, and population estimates bats found across the county. Volunteer Bat Monitor Requirements: - Perform at least 6 emergent counts throughout the monitoring season at your selected park (or roughly 1 per month if beginning monitoring after season has started) - Submit emergent count data online at tinyurl.com/pccbats within 3 days of monitoring - Submit bat monitoring volunteer hours at the end of each month *Volunteer bat monitors are asked to monitor at least 6 times per park and not per bat house location.
Increase our understanding of bat populations and colony types within our local county parks.
For questions about the Bat Monitoring Program please contact Michael French | michael.french@polkcountyiowa.gov or conservationvolunte..@polkcountyiowa.gov
This opportunity is appropriate for ages 8+. No experience necessary. Can be done individually or with a group. Monitoring is done shortly after sunset and will mean not leaving the monitoring site(s) until after it is dark outside. What to Bring: It is recommended to dress for the weather. Bring materials to track/count the bats you see emerging and reentering the bat house(s). Wear bug netting, long pants and long sleeve shirts, and/or bug spray to protect yourself from bug bites.
By registering for this volunteer opportunity, I acknowledge I am filling an open position. In the event that I and/or members of my group are unable to participate, I will cancel my registration to allow for others to join this opportunity.
| Position | Dates | Need | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carney Marsh | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 0 | Fulfilled | |
| Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 3 | Volunteer | |
| Easter Lake Park | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 2 | Volunteer | |
| Fort Des Moines Park | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 4 | Volunteer | |
| Jester Park | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 6 | Volunteer | |
| Thomas Mitchell Park | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 4 | Volunteer | |
| Yellow Banks Park | Apr 01, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024 | 7 | Volunteer |