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Delaware Seeks Volunteers To Spot And Count Bats

By Chelsea Lacey-Mabe

SMYRNA, DEL. (CBS) -- Bat-counting may sound like the favorite pastime of The Count from Sesame Street but the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is calling on Delawareans to help count the creatures for their annual state bat count.

The Diamond State is home to nine species of bats—some of which migrate long distances to hibernate during winter. Many of the colonies have started to return for the spring season, taking up residence in barns, garages, attics, bat boxes and homes throughout the area.

According to the DNREC, bats are integral to the environment because they help pollinate flowers much like bees. In addition, they eat insects like mosquitoes, moths and beetles and lessen the need for farmers to use pesticides on their crops.

"They're providing us with a valuable and free service, so it's to our benefit to have them around," said wildlife biologist Holly Niederriter, with DNREC's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The bat-spotters are asked to count the bats at least twice during the summer once they adopt a site.

A training session for volunteers will be held on Saturday, May 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Aquatic Resources Education Center in Smyrna followed by a colony demonstration.

The DNREC has additional resources on their website including instructions on safely removing a bat from a home. Residents can also call the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Species Conservation Program at 302-735-8651 to report a bat colony or known roosting site.

Those interested in the training event can pre-register by calling Alex Heinemann at 302-735-8676 or by emailing her at Alexandra.heinemann@state.de.us.

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