Get Batty at the Florida Annual Bat Festival

Get in the Halloween spirit while exploring the environmental benefits of bats—yes, you read that right. According to Lubee Bat Conservancy curator Brian Pope, bats play an important role in pollination and seed dispersal. However, bats are highly susceptible to extinction, so the Florida Annual Bat Festival, now in its fifth year, provides education and information about conservation.

Among other things, Lubee houses fruit bats with wingspans of five to six feet, and they will be on display at the festival. Food, drinks and merchandise will also be available at this free event that last year drew more than 1,400 people.

Brian says the event connects with the local community to show what Lubee does.

“Our goal is to make it the premier festival of North Central Florida,” he says.

The festival is tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 10), from 10:30am to 3:30pm at the Conservancy (1309 NW 192nd Ave.).

—Kate Ashby
PHOTO: Susan Mulder