Critter Kits: Bat Chat

Bats are often associated with Halloween, but in reality, they aren’t all that scary! With the materials in this kit, your class will learn about bat natural history, their importance as part of a healthy ecosystem, the challenges they face, and current monitoring efforts in RI.

What’s included in this kit?

Information about Rhode Island’s bats
Resources on what to do if you encounter a bat in your home
Sample lesson plans
PowerPoints
Instructions for building a bat box
Photos and videos
Show and tell items
"Batty" activities from Project WILD and Project EduBat

Bat Chat Educator Packet

Educator Packet
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Educator Resources

A big brown bat in one of RI's few winter hibernacula
A bunch of big brown bats hang out at our office in West Kingston
Eastern red bats are pretty adorable!
Mist netting at the Great Swamp
Opening up the mist net
Caught in the mist net!
DEM staff collect data on a bat during a mist net survey
An Eastern red bat with her new band
Measuring a bat's forearm
Big brown bat, banded by RIDEM DFW
Individually numbered bat bands
Writing down important bat data
This eastern red bat is ready for his closeup!
Not so ready to fly away!
Labeled bat wing
Homologous bones
Big brown bat call sonogram
Eastern red bat sonogram
Little brown bat sonogram
Silver-haired bat sonogram
Little brown bat with white-nose syndrome (USFWS)
A hibernating bat with white-nose syndrome (USFWS)

Bat Chat Educator Packet

Download Photos (Zip File)

Additional Resources

Lesson Plan 1

Lesson 1: Bat Basics

Lesson 1 Presentation

Activities

Activities

Next Generation Science Standards

The material covered in the Rhody Critter Kits aligns with the following standards:

LS1A	Structure and Function
LS2A	Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2C	Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
LS4C	Adaptation
LS4D	Biodiversity and Humans
ESS3A	Natural Resources
ES3C	Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Critter Kit Lending Policy:

Critter Kits are available to borrow for 2 weeks at a time. To reserve a kit, click the button below to view available dates and then fill out our reservation form to request a kit. Once your reservation has been confirmed, your selected kit can be picked up any time during your reservation period from the RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife headquarters at the Great Swamp Management: 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892.

Wildlife Outreach staff will pick up the kit at your school or organization on the Friday morning of the second week. Please have the kit ready for pick up with a signed copy of the kit checklist confirming all items have been returned (checklist included with the kit). If in a school facility, we can pick up the kit in the school’s main office so that our staff does not interrupt your teaching schedule when picking up the kit.

Reserve a Critter Kit

Send us your feedback!

Are you using this kit online only or have you borrowed a kit to use in your classroom? We want your feedback! We're always working to make our kits better. Please provide your thoughts using our online form.

Critter Kits Feedback Form

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff are happy to help provide any support you need! Email gabrielle.demeillon@dem.ri.gov.