Statewide Iowa — The Iowa DNR plans to expand its bat monitoring program across the state with some new contracts.
The DNR’s Karen Kinkead says the program began around 10 years ago.
Federal officials picked the states where the sound monitoring of bats is done.
Those recorded sounds then let them know what type of bats they have in each state.
She says bat populations have been declining after being hit by disease.
Kinkead says there’s some indication that White Nose Syndrome has dropped off in the east.
The DNR has won some federal money to go along with state money, and will work with Iowa State University and the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in the bat tracking program. Kinkead says there’s no way to treat the bats — so they are focusing on improving their habitat to make them healthier.
She says they are still determining which counties they will add to their bat monitoring. They will also be sending out a call for volunteers to drive the bat listening routes sometime in April or May.
