BSC Group’s Ecology Team recently partnered with MassWildlife to support ongoing bat conservation efforts at the Ashby Wildlife Management Area (WMA) through a pro bono acoustic monitoring project.
When MassWildlife called for volunteers to assist with its Bat House Monitoring Program, BSC ecologist Rachel Toews answered without hesitation. Assigned to conduct a bat emergence survey at the Ashby WMA, Rachel observed and recorded bat activity at a managed bat house during peak dusk hours.
But she didn’t stop there.
Following her survey, Rachel initiated a conversation with MassWildlife staff and offered BSC’s support in the form of a pro bono acoustic survey. Her goal: to help confirm which bat species were using the bat house through non-invasive, technology-driven methods.
Within days, BSC’s bat specialists deployed bat detectors at the site to record ultrasonic calls. This data will allow BSC's bat call review specialist to identify species presence with precision and contribute meaningful insights to MassWildlife’s conservation planning.
This effort reflects BSC’s commitment to supporting wildlife monitoring programs, empowering community science, and fostering innovative partnerships that benefit the environment.
For more information about bat surveys and other bat related service, please contact BSC Ecological Project Manager, Sarah Barnum (sbarnum@bscgroup.com).