Maureen Heidtmann, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, will provide an overview of bats of the world, with an emphasis on our local species. The presentation will cover the myths and misconceptions about these fascinating creatures, the many roles bats play to ensure a healthy planet, the perils bats face in their struggle for survival, their amazing resilience, and what we can do to help. A bat box, or bat house, is one way to get involved in protecting bats. These structures also provide an opportunity to observe bats’ fascinating behavior. This program is FREE and open to the public at 33 West Avenue, Essex, CT. Registration is required. Please register online at youressexlibrary.org or by calling the Library at 860-767-1560.

A FREE bat box, fabricated according to the specifications outlined by Bat Conservation International, is available to the first five registrants who attend the program.

About Maureen:
Maureen is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who has worked with bats for over twenty years. She also holds a Master Wildlife Conservationist certificate, and a permit from USDA to keep non-releasable bats for educational purposes. In Connecticut, Maureen is one of only three rehabilitators approved by DEEP to care for bats.

Over the years, Maureen has presented programs for children and adults at libraries, schools, nature centers and botanical gardens. In 2016, she was the designated regional educator for Bat Conservation International, and she has done voluntary fieldwork for BCI, looking for endangered species bats with the goal of protecting their habitat.