Haslett - Bats are nocturnal creatures, but the sun didn’t keep them from showing off for local residents Saturday afternoon during the Organization for Bat Conservation’s third annual Open House.
The event was held at the organization’s offices, 1553 Haslett Road in Haslett, and was free to the public.
MSU graduate Kim Williams, who co-directs the organization with her husband, Rob Mies, said the open house was a great success.
More than 500 people attended, which was a greater turnout than at either of the previous two open houses. The event provided free food, face-painting and a bike raffle, along with educational tours that were given throughout the day.
Katie Vezina, 7, attended the open house with her mother, Dawn Vezina.
Dawn Vezina has volunteered for the open house each year, but Katie does her part too.
“I talk to my friends about bats sometimes,” she said. “Bats aren’t scary, they’re just little tiny creatures, they don’t hurt anyone.”
The tours highlighted the open house, offering an up-close look at the more than 150 bats in the organization’s care. The tours included information on the conservation of local bat populations and demonstrations of bats’ sensing abilities and size. Most tours included an introduction to the big brown bat, which has a wingspan of about 12 inches, and to one of the many species of fruit bats at the facility, which can have a wingspan of up to 4 feet.
Mies said the main reason for the open house was to make the public aware that the organization provides educational programs, books and bat houses, as well as free information.
“It’s mainly about getting the word out, so that in the future when someone wants to get a bat house, they know where to go,” Mies said.
Mies said the organization holds other smaller events during the year, but donations and sales from the open house provide the primary funding for the organization.
“This is how we get paid, how we fund our presenters and how we fund our conservation programs,” he said.
Six of the books available at the open house were children’s books authored by Williams and Eric Stoops.
Williams was available during the open house to sign autographs and answer questions about her books. She was joined by Grady, a big brown bat that has been with the organization for about five years and is on the cover of Williams’ book, “Bats That Eat Insects.” Williams signed books with one hand, and cradled the bat in the other gloved hand during the event.
The open house was organized by the organization’s seven full-time staff members, with the help of 10 volunteers.
“This event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers,” Mies said.
The organization boasts about 25 to 30 active volunteers who participate in various functions throughout the year.
