The April 2026 Members’ dinner meeting was held on April 15th at the Oakland Christian Church Community Life Center. The dinner meal consisted of ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls and a variety of deserts. As usual, the cooking committee did a great job.
The guest speaker for April was wildlife biologist Dana Spontak, known to his friends and colleagues as the “Bat Man”.
He reviewed the many projects that he has supported and led as a certified biologist and provided an informative talk on bats, their history, habitat and things we can do to help them.
He stated that bats and bat lore are woven throughout history, literature and culture. There’s a “bat month”—October.
There are about 1500 species of bats and next to rodents they are the second most populous warm-blooded species on Earth. They are very adaptable which has led to their proliferation, but that is changing. Habitat degradation and loss have negatively impacted bats as well as other species. Bats are also being eliminated by a contact-contagious fungal disease, White Nose Syndrome. It typically affects cave-dwelling bats. At this time there is no known cure.
Dana reviewed bat anatomy and explained the “blind as a bat” saying is not technically correct. Bats use echo-location for finding insects, but they have fully functional eyes. Bats typically migrate and hibernate or go into torpor and normally are in the Hampton Roads area from spring to early fall.
He provided some methods to assist our mosquito-eating neighbors. He recommended only cutting trees in the winter months or after having an assessment done to determine if bats are present. Department of Wildlife Resources has information on bats, their habitats, and how to build bat houses. Bat Conservation International has information on gardening for bats and additional information on bat houses. He also stated that in order to attract bats you need to provide a water source, have clear flight path(s), keep pets—especially cats—inside at night, turn outside lights off or on low. He also said that bat houses are best mounted on poles about 10 to 15 feet off of the ground in a clear area. If you do install a bat house, it should be cleaned in the winter months using a stiff, dry brush.
President Chris Ferguson swore in two new members, Maurice Stallings and Terry West pictured below from left to right. Welcome to the chapter gentlemen.
