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About us:
The Florida Bat Conservancy (previously known as
the Florida Bat Center) is a private non-profit
organization established for the purpose of protecting and preserving
Florida bats. The most important
element in a strategy to protect misunderstood wildlife is
public education. To help overcome the myths and misunderstandings
surrounding bats, the Conservancy provides educational
programs for schools, libraries, nature parks and environmental
organizations. The Conservancy works with state and local agencies on bat
conservation projects throughout Florida. Our staff consults with home and
business owners that have bats in their buildings and advises them on how
they can be excluded from the building without harm. Volunteers
rescue and care for Injured and orphaned bats found on the ground or in
abnormal locations. By networking with wildlife rehabilitators around the
state we can find help for an injured bat found almost anywhere in
Florida. The organization also conducts independent research and surveys
to learn more about the abundance and health of bats in Florida.
Our mission:
To preserve and protect
native bat populations within the state of Florida.
Our Objectives:
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To educate
the public about bats and how to preserve bat populations in their local
community.
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To support and coordinate the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured, sick or orphaned bats within Florida.
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To work with other organizations and governmental agencies to survey and protect bat populations within Florida.
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To conduct research on the impact of urban development on bat populations in Florida and use the resulting information to minimize or eliminate adverse effects. To
help property owners with nuisance bat problems and provide advice
and support which will protect the colony and minimize, eliminate or
mitigate any nuisance effects.
To
help property owners with nuisance bat problems and provide advice
and support which will protect the colony and minimize, eliminate or
mitigate any nuisance effects.
Our History:
Cynthia and George Marks, founders of the organization, began working
with bats in 1989. In 1994 they established the Florida Bat
Center, a non profit
organization for the purpose of protecting and preserving Florida's native
bats. Over the past fifteen years they, along with staff and volunteers,
have presented hundreds of educational programs about bats, rescued
and cared for hundreds of injured and orphaned bats, worked with state
and local agencies on numerous bat conservation projects, and helped
home and business owners with bats in their buildings. In
2006 the board of directors changed the name to the Florida Bat
Conservancy. It was decided the new name better describes the
statewide conservation activities of the organization.
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