Colorado State
University wildlife researcher Rob Schorr and colleagues from the Colorado
Natural Heritage Program and Warner College of Natural Resources's Human
Dimensions of Wildlife program started a novel collaboration between
recreational climbers and bat biologists. Schorr, who has studied bat ecology
for more than 25 years, joined forces with human dimensions specialist Dr. Shawn
Davis and ecologist Bernadette Kuhn, who are both avid climbers, to understand
bat roosting ecology by asking climbers to share their observations of bats.
This collaboration is called Climbers for Bat Conservation. This program
was motivated by massive declines in bat populations caused by a novel North
American disease, called white-nose syndrome. Populations of millions of bats
have dwindled to thousands or fewer.
By collaborating with recreational
climbers, CBC has identified new roosts and populations of bats from North
America and from countries around the world. Climbers for Bat Conservation
relies on information sharing and regular interaction with climbers. Your
support provides resources to promote citizen science in the climbing community
to improve bat conservation efforts. Thank you!