Let’s Talk Bats: Learn More About our Only Flying Mammal

Let’s talk bats!  As our only flying mammals, bats occupy a unique niche in many worldwide ecosystems. They provide critical services within those ecosystems, such as pollination or seed dispersal. We’ll take a look at bat species locally and worldwide, focusing on their behavior, preferred food and habitats. While most of our local bats specialize in eating insects, we’ll briefly mention species that feed on nectar, fish, blood, and more. We’ll also touch on simple ways you can share your appreciation for bats in the future.

SPEAKER:  Diana Foss recently retired after a 30-year career with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  As an Urban Wildlife Technical Guidance Biologist in the Wildlife Diversity Program at TPWD, she worked with a variety of public and private landowners to manage, conserve and improve habitat for wildlife in urban areas.  She also assisted governmental agencies to adapt policy for wildlife and share management advice on greenspaces, parks, and bayou corridors with wildlife habitat in mind. Prior to that, Diana served for 10 years as the Education Director of The Texas Zoo @ Victoria, a native species zoo at the time.  Diana has a B. S. degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University, College Station.

Currently, Diana helps coordinate the Houston Area Bat Team, an amazing group of trained volunteers dedicated to discovering, researching and monitoring bat populations in our region, as well as encouraging the public to value bats in our ecosystems.  She and the team give regular Friday night Bat Chats for the public down at Waugh bridge.  Since retirement, Diana enjoys gardening, quilting, and family genealogy.

HOW TO CONNECT

Visit the Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. web site at  www.thewoodlandsgreen.org. Click on the “Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. Lecture” link  on the frontpage. You will be automatically connected via Zoom to the  presentation.

VMS: AT: Woodlands GREEN (Let’s Talk Bats)