The batcam is housed in a 19th century church attic in Canoe Creek State Park, which has provided a summer home for bats for at least 20 years. Over 15,000 little brown bats and 30 to 100 endangered Indiana bats use the attic as a maternity colony where female bats raise their young. Pennsylvania's largest breeding population of little brown bats, and the only known maternity colony of Indiana bats in the state, are found at this one site. Now known as the Frank Felbaum Bat Sanctuary, the church was purchased by the Wild Resource Conservation Fund in 1993. The Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks manages the church and grounds, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing the bat colony.

What You'll See

• Two cameras are located in the church, one at the entrance and one on a baffle inside the attic. The best time to view the entrance camera is just before sunset, when bats head out to forage for the evening, or just before sunrise, when they return to the church to roost.
• You might see roosting bats up close on the inside camera. Bats are more likely to be near the camera in early morning or early evening when temperatures are a little cooler. Bats like hot places, but will move up and down to find a comfortable temperature.
• Baby bats, called pups, are born in early June. If you see a bat with a bulge under her wing, it usually means a pup is tucked there. Watch closely, you may catch a glimpse!

Location of Canoe Creek State Park

More information on Canoe Creek bats.
Environmental Reporter story on the Canoe Creek bats.