Today we are joined by zoologist and founder of Climbers for Bat Conservation, Rob Schorr. Rob has a particular passion for bats, which can be somewhat elusive and challenging to study given where they often roost. That’s where climbers come in.

Around 10 years ago, Rob recognized an opportunity to partner with climbers to expand research on bat ecology. Since climbers and bats share the same vertical landscape, climbers are able to provide Rob and other scientists with information that they could not gather from capturing bats on the ground.

Bats are largely misunderstood by the public. Rob’s work demystifies these unique animals while also gaining a better understanding of bat ecology and conservation. Working with climbers has provided Rob with invaluable information, and he is incredibly psyched to continue working with the community as conservation partners.

3:45- Rob’s intro5:54- Work outside of bats11:50- Rob’s initial interest in bats12:53- Misconceptions about bats19:22- Climbers coming to the picture23:19- Approaching bat research using climbers27:50- Trends seen over the last ten years32:23- Identifying guano37:09- Primary concerns from human disturbance 44:07- Climbers for Bat Conservation45:07- CBC projects and public engagements49:18- Where to submit data and observations51:01- Will there ever be bat closures?54:36- Educational resources on bats

Climbers for Bat Conservation’s website: https://climbersforbats.colostate.edu/

Climbers for Bat Conservation’s Instagram: @climbers_for_bat_conservation

Global Climbing Initiative’s Best Practices Chapter on Bat Conservation: https://globalclimbing.org/best-practices/climbers-and-bat-conservation

Bat Conservation International: https://www.batcon.org/