A Route 1 nonprofit is working to make the Anacostia River more bat-friendly to keep the population of mosquitoes, beetles and other insects in check.
The Anacostia Watershed Society has partnered with Bat Conservation International to plant trees and manage gardens that provide habitat for the eight species of insect-eating bats that live along the Route 1 corridor.
The local population of bats has been decimated in recent years due to a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome and a loss of trees they use for roosting due to the emerald ash borer, an invasive species.
In response, the Anacostia Watershed Society held a tree planting event in Colmar Manor in December to plant more native trees that the bats can roost in. It also maintains a bat-friendly garden at its headquarters at 4302 Baltimore Ave. in Bladensburg.
In 2020, D.C. also named the Big Brown Bat the official mammal of the district, after lobbying from a group of Girl Scouts concerned about their reduced numbers.
If you are interested in helping native bats, you can install a bat box in a sunny spot on the side of your house.
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An excellent joint project, and so important for the health of many creatures, including us! Your advice about bat house location needs to be more nuanced, though. There must be access to water, it should be at least 15 feet from the ground, and the box must not “bake” at any time of day. Bats will not move in unless the conditions work for them. Check Bat Conservation International’s website for current recommendations.