UC experts lead Ohio Bat Fest

Coordinated by UC bat experts Joe Johnson and postdoctoral fellow Missy Meierhofer, the festival invites the public to explore the captivating world of bats — some of the most misunderstood creatures in the animal kingdom.

Johnson and Meierhofer bring extensive expertise to the event. Johnson is a faculty member and Meierhofer is staff in UC’s School of Information Technology, part of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. They have spent years combining technology with wildlife research to study and conserve bats across the Midwest and the country. 

The free, public event is part of Bat Week, a nationwide celebration leading up to Halloween that highlights the ecological importance of bats. Visitors to Bat Fest can expect booths hosted by the Ohio Department of Wildlife, Great Parks of Hamilton County, local wildlife rehabilitators (including one bringing a live bat) and the Ohio Bat Working Group. 

Other partners include the Greater Cincinnati Grotto, which shares insights into caving, and local nonprofit Indigo Hippo, donating materials for children’s bat-themed crafts. 

“We’ve even built a kid-sized cave,” Meierhofer says. “Children can crawl through and discover little bats we’ve created inside, and they can make flapping paper bats or color their own bat species. It’s really about sparking curiosity.” 

Adults can test their skills with a telemetry scavenger hunt, using real tracking equipment to locate a hidden, signal-emitting “bat.”  

“It’s not a live bat,” Meierhofer clarified, “but it’s the same process we use when we’re tracking them in the wild.”

Johnson’s research spans multiple conservation projects across the Midwest, from studying the Virginia big-eared bat (one of North America’s rarest species) to combating white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has decimated bat populations.

At UC, his team uses IT and field ecology to create innovative conservation tools. “We’re building systems that let people safely observe bats in real time,” he explains. “Our goal is to help communities appreciate how amazing these animals are — they’re pollinators, pest controllers and indicators of ecosystem health.” 

Meierhofer says bats continue to surprise her. “They can live 30 years or more,” she said. “They hibernate, they migrate and there’s still so much we don’t know about them. Every new study opens another door.”

While the event is designed for fun, both researchers hope it will deepen public appreciation for Ohio’s native bat populations and inspire the next generation of scientists. 

“Bats are often misunderstood,” Meierhofer said. “But when people see them up close and learn how vital they are to our ecosystems, their perception changes. That’s what this festival is about — replacing fear with fascination.” 

Johnson agreed. "We want people to walk away thinking, 'Wow, bats are incredible and worth protecting.'"

Featured image at top of a little brown bat. Photo/provided by Johnson.