8th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival Flying Into
The Milwaukee County Zoo
August 28 & 29, 2009
Sponsored by BATCONE®

Bat Festival

Go batty with us as we host this special event relating to all things bat when the Organization for Bat Conservation, in partnership with the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, present the 8th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival, August 28 and 29, at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

This year’s festival kicks off with a special “Bat Encounter” presentation by author and bat expert Rob Mies, Director of the Organization for Bat Conservation, on Friday, August 28
at 7 p.m.  Rob has made numerous television appearances promoting bats including “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” and “The Today Show.” During the presentation, visitors will meet the largest bat in the world, the Malayan flying fox (a giant fruit bat with a 6 foot wingspan), and learn more about the amazing world of bats! Tickets are $5 per person; purchases can be made in advance at (248) 645-3232, or online at www.batconservation.org. Tickets also will be sold at the door. The program, held at the Zoofari Conference Center (just east of the Zoo), is most appreciated by adults and children ages 6 and older.

On Saturday, August 29, general activities take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Karen Peck Katz Conservation Education Center. Highlights include presentations on the benefits of bats, bat houses, bat research and conservation, public health and much more. The event also features live bat programs by the Organization for Bat Conservation, including small Great Lakes insect-eating bats, and large flying fox bats from Africa.

Additional programming includes talks by leading bat experts, conservation displays,
bat-themed activities for kids, a bat book signing and Zoo bat feedings in the Small Mammal Building. Guests also have the opportunity to visit with Wisconsin rabies survivor, Jeanna Giese. All daytime activities on Saturday are free with regular Zoo admission.

On Saturday evening, a family barbeque will be offered from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Zoo’s Brown Bear Den and Australian Outback picnic areas. Food will be available for purchase.  Immediately following the barbeque, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., bat experts will demonstrate how bat research takes place. During this special “Bat Science Night,” these experts will show bat-netting techniques, radio-tagging and light-tagging.

Some of the experts featured at the festival include:

  • Dave Redell:  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Dr. Al Kurta:  Eastern Michigan University
  • Rob Mies:  Organization for Bat Conservation
  • Dr. Tim Carter:  Ball State University
  • Rhonda Crenshaw:  Milwaukee County Zoo
  • Rod Foster:  Stevenson High School
  • Mike Frayer:  Milwaukee County Zoo

The 8th Annual Great Lakes Bat Festival is designed for all ages, and sponsored in part by Batcone.

For more information, contact the Zoo’s Public Affairs and Services Division at (414) 256-5411.

Special thanks to our Bat Festival sponsor:
BATCONE