Counting Bats

brown bats hibernating

Since 2003, the Summer Bat Count project has enlisted volunteers across NJ to monitor bat populations at known summer roost sites, including attics, barns, bat houses, churches, and other structures.

This volunteer project was created by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation and the state's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) to gain a better understanding of how NJ's bats are distributed across the state, what conditions they select for roosting, and how populations may be changing over time.

Since White-nose Syndrome (WNS) hit NJ in January 2009, information from the Summer Bat Count is more critical than ever, helping biologists to measure the impact of this devastating killer.

Read the full 2009 bat summary.