30 October 2009 - National Bat Symposium Set for Nov. 4-7

Release Date: 

Contact: Pat Ormsbee, 541.225.6442; Jan Zinck 503.577.4526

The North American Symposium on Bat Research will hold its annual meeting in Portland, November 4 7.

The symposium, which is the annual conference for the North American Society for Bat Research, will be held at the Portland Hilton, 921 S.W. 6th Ave. More than 300 people are expected to share the latest research on chiropterans Latin for bats, derived from the Greek word for hand? and wing.? Participants are expected from North, Central and South America as well as Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Sponsors include Bat Conservation International, The Western Bat Working Group, Department of Defense Legacy Program, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management

With more than 1,000 species of bats and only a few thousand researchers, we have our work cut out for us,? said Jan Zinck, a Portland State University researcher. We have a lot of student researchers about a third of those attending are students so that makes it even more fun and interesting.?

The symposium will cover a broad range of topics and species, including White Nose Syndrome and wind energy two issues challenging bat specialists.

The public is welcome. For more information, visit www.nasbr.org