Photo By Sgt. 1st Class James McGuire | Lt. Col. Joe Huss, Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center deputy commander, helps set up...... read more read more
CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. - Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists conducted an inventory of Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center’s bat population in July.
The weeklong study was part of a two-year project in eastern Wyoming, and is similar to the study done over the last two years on the western side of the state.
Camp Guernsey’s cliffs and canyons, as well as its water sources and protected status, make it an ideal habitat, according to WGFD Non-Game Biologist Leah Yandow, whom, along with Wildlife Technician Krysta Demere, conducted the study that netted nine different species and a total of 240 bats.
Amanda C. Thimmayya, natural resources manager at the Construction and Facilities Management Office of the Wyoming Military Department, said WGFD has been monitoring bat populations at Guernsey since 1994. As well, her office is required to conduct planning level surveys on animals and plants on Camp Guernsey. She added, the recent inventory was the most detailed to date.
“This was a great opportunity to partner with WGFD,” she said. “They got to survey a great bat habitat and we will get information on what bats and how many bats, are using the camp.”
Demere said bats are best known for eating many insects during their night time forages. Most will eat thousands of bugs a night.
“Bats are an excellent indicator of an area’s ecosystem,” said Demere. “Bats represent about one third of Wyoming’s mammal population, and have an important role in the environment.”
As the sun sets, Yandow and Demere don waders and unfurl fine nets across small ponds or stock tanks in their study area. Water is necessary as it provides great feeding areas for the bats. Once the nets are in place, the duo set up an examination table with measuring devices and inventory forms on which they annotate species, sex, age, size and weight among other details.
They will also check for evidence of white nose syndrome, which has devastated bat populations in the eastern U.S. in recent years.
Garrison Deputy Commander, Joseph Huss said the JTC is happy to host the study.
“We care about Wyoming’s natural resources, and we want to be good stewards of this beautiful land we are entrusted with.”
| Date Taken: | 10.20.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.20.2014 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 145534 |
| Location: | CAMP GUERNSEY, WY, US |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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