News

Museum curator, bat rescuer to discuss the animals Nov. 4 in Carson City

CARSON CITY, Nevada — Nevada is home to 23 species of bats, some of which will be featured Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City. George Baumgardner, the museum’s curator of natural history, will offer short, repeating presentations on local bats from 1 to 3 p.m. for visitors passing through the museum’s demonstration gallery. He’ll have photos, models and preserved specimens — and he might just share his recent experience rescuing a Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) in Dayton.

Baumgardner was called by Jenni Jeffers of the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to help remove a bat from Sutro Elementary School in Dayton. School officials had contacted NDOW about the animal, which was sleeping close to the building’s entryway. Jeffers reached out to Baumgardner, who works close to Dayton, for help. Wearing gloves, he climbed a ladder, captured the bat, put it in a cloth bag, and removed it from school property. In addition to the gloves, Baumgardner wore a face mask. This was due not only to COVID-19 protocols for humans but because there is concern that humans might transmit coronavirus to bats. NDOW now requires biologists handling live bats to wear gloves and masks for the bat’s protection.

Wednesday’s program is part of the museum’s Curator’s Corner series, in which a museum curator displays artifacts in the museum’s demonstration gallery for visitors passing through. Museum admission is required: $8, free for children ages 17 and younger. All visitors and staff must wear a face covering while in the museum and maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Acrylic barriers are in place at the admissions desk, in the store, and in the demonstration gallery to protect visitors. The museum is allowing visitors up to half its normal capacity to ensure social distancing. Details: CarsonNVMuseum.org.

EDITORS: For an bat images, click here. For an image of George Baumgardner, click here.

The Nevada Division of Museum of Museums and History preserves, shares and promotes the understanding and celebration of Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage for the enrichment of all generations.