BEND– Want to help bats and set a world record on Halloween?

The Deschutes National Forest is partnering with Discover Your Forest to host “Batacular,” a day of fun bat activities for kids and adults from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. Participants will learn about bats and join forces with conservationists around the country to help set a world record for the number of bat houses built during Bat Week, an annual event sponsored by the US Forest Service and others to raise awareness for bat conservation worldwide.

This family friendly event will be held at the Deschutes National Forest headquarters at 63095 Deschutes Market Road, Bend, OR 97701. The event is free, open to the public and Halloween costumes are welcome!

If you’re planning to attend, please RSVP by Friday, October 23 to Wildlife Biologist, Julie York at jsyork@fs.fed.us.

Bat Week: Bat Week is an annual, international block of programs and media appearances designed to raise awareness for bat conservation worldwide. Bat Week is organized and supported by the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bat Conservation International, the Organization for Bat Conservation, The Save Lucy Campaign and Wildlife Acoustics. This year Bat Week will be held from October 25-31. For more information, visit www.batweek.org.