Bat Night at the Castle Pond: Discover the secret hunters of the night!

Bat Night at the Castle Pond: Discover the secret hunters of the night!

Under the sparkling starry sky, the city of Chemnitz invites you to an exciting excursion into the mysterious world of bats. On Friday, September 5th, a so-called bat night will take place from 7:30 p.m., which will be a real highlight not only for nature lovers, but also for families with children. The meeting point for participants is on the footpath at the “Milchhäuschen” café at Schloßteichstrasse 20. Participation is completely free.

The approximately two-hour tour is led by Julia Vogel from the Chemnitz Environmental Agency and the volunteer bat expert Holger Tippmann. They are supported by the Young Nature Watchers Chemnitz (BUND) team. Participants have the opportunity to observe the hunting bats at dusk and to use a special detector to make the animals' ultrasonic calls audible, which promises an unforgettable experience. These fascinating animals not only have a bad reputation that needs to be questioned, but also offer exciting insights into their way of life and the protective measures that are necessary for them.

Bats: natural wonders of the night

Did you know that bats and flying foxes are the second most diverse order of mammals after rodents? With over 1,000 different species that have existed for around 53 million years, they are a truly impressive example of evolution. To find their way in the dark, these small creatures use echolocation, an impressive ability they developed about 47 million years ago. With up to 100 ultrasonic calls per second, they are true masters of acoustic orientation.

There are 25 different bat species native to Germany, which differ in habitat and hunting behavior. For example, the Alpine bat is seen high in the mountains, while the broad-winged bat is often seen in settlements. So far, 25 different species have been identified in Bavaria, and many of them are critically endangered. The population has declined dramatically since the 1950s, largely due to habitat destruction and widespread prejudice against these animals.

Protective measures and education

In order to ensure the survival of these fascinating mammals in an ever-changing world, various protective measures have been put in place. This includes installing bat boxes, ensuring suitable habitats and educational campaigns to inform the population about the importance of bats and how to properly protect their roosts. A well-informed citizen can do much to save these useful insect killers.

Another problem is insect-killing chemicals that endanger the bats' food supply. These small creatures make a crucial contribution to ecological balance by hunting flying insects. They can consume up to 10 grams of insects in one night, which ensures they play an important role in the ecosystem.

Take the opportunity to find out more about these mysterious night creatures! The Bat Night at the Castle Pond not only shows the fascinating way of life of bats, but also how important it is to protect them. Who knows, maybe your next visit to the bats will be a particularly exciting experience.

For further information about the events and the different bat species, you can visit the Chemnitz website as well as the pages of Fledermausschutz Augsburg and Visit NABU.