Bat Discovery Night at Clendening Lake

Discover the amazing world of bats during Bat Discovery Night at Clendening Lake Marina! Join MWCD and bat biologist Dr. Joe Johnson for a unique opportunity to observe live bat research as bats are safely captured in mist nets, identified, tagged, and released as part of an ongoing tracking study. Learn how researchers are working to better understand and protect Ohio’s bat populations, including the little brown bat colony at Clendening Lake, believed to be the largest in the state.

This family-friendly evening also includes tie-dye T-shirt activities, guided boat tours, a bat box workshop, and hands-on wildlife education. Bats play a vital role in healthy ecosystems, but many species have experienced significant declines due to White-nose Syndrome, a disease that has devastated bat populations across North America. Come explore the night, meet wildlife experts, and discover why bats are some of Ohio’s most important—and misunderstood—mammals.

7-8pm          Bat Box Workshop – Learn about Ohio’s bats and how important they are for nature’s balance. Registration required at MWCD.org/tickets.

8-9pm          T-shirt Tie-Dye – Make a tie-dye masterpiece at the picnic shelter! T-shirts are $10, cash only. Sizes first come, first served.

8-10pm        Bat Tagging – Clendening is home to Ohio’s largest maternity colony of little brown bats! Watch as Dr. Joe Johnson, ecologist at the University of Cincinnati, captures these amazing flying mammals for tagging to track their flights. Learn about this process and how you can help researchers track the bats!

9-11pm        Pontoon Tour of the Lake – Enjoy a tour of the lake under the stars. You may even see a meteor! Plus, track the bats that have just been released! Registration required at MWCD.org/tickets.