Naracoorte Caves to host night event

Get ready to learn interesting facts and witness bats in their natural habitat at the Limestone Coast Landscape Board Bat night! Come and celebrate the incredible southern bent-wing bat and learn about their vital role in the landscape at Naracoorte Caves, November Park of the Month!

Bats often go unnoticed, but these micro creatures are essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Consuming large quantities of insects each night, bats can help keep pastures free from pests and reduce the need for chemical control measures.

Bat night will provide an interactive experience for the Limestone Coast community to learn about the southern bent-wing bat. This is a spectacular and rare opportunity to see bats in their natural habitat.

Local bat expert Nicola Bail will provide insights into bat behaviour, habitat and how we can support these micro creatures to thrive in our landscape.

“The southern bent-wing bat is critically endangered, learning how to support this tiny creature is vital for its survival. Planting native shelterbelts along with preventing stock and human access to roosting caves on properties are just a couple of ways we can help”, said Cassie Hlava, Project Coordinator for the Limestone Coast Landscape Board. ”Bat Cave at the Naracoorte Cave is a key maternity site with pups born in late spring/early summer. It is exciting we may get to witness young pups from the observation centre.”

Loss of habitat is one of the biggest threats to bats so by increasing and improving habitat we can help to increase numbers and maintain a healthy ecosystem for the local landscape.

Encourage your friends and family to come and join this free, family event and experience the bats up close through the infrared camera in the Bat Observation Centre before thousands of micro bats embark on their journey out of the cave at dusk.

A free sausage sizzle will be provided.

Bat night will be held on Friday 15 November 2024 from 6.15 pm, at the Naracoorte Caves. This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.

To register for this event please visit lc.landscape.sa.gov.au