Life Above Us : A Night of Bat Discovery at Haw River State Park
Wildlife biologist Scott Fletcher shares his knowledge about bats with North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Triad Wild! Chapter members at Haw River State Park
A chorus of car doors, plastic folding chair legs clunking against one another and rubber soled hiking shoes scuffling about the pavement filled the Haw River State Park parking lot as a group of curious nature lovers gathered their outdoor gear. Flashlights and water bottles in hand, excited faces began to form a circle. At the center, a full, well-worn, dark camouflaged backpack slung over the shoulders of a tall man wearing a simple pair of khakis and matching baseball cap. Embroidered in bold yellow, white and black the emblem of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation marked the crown. Intent eyes and a warm smile sat below the brim. Wildlife biologist Scott Fletcher stood with patient shoulders as the group completed its assembly. Giddy murmurs swelled the prelude, anticipating the start of the Bat Detection Program.
Scott’s steady, observant presence drew the crowd close. As a wildlife biologist with decades of experience, he has spent countless nights in the field and carries a quiet reverence for the land and for the creatures that stir beneath twilight skies. Having built a career rooted in conservation—with expertise spanning endangered species, habitat restoration, wetlands, and environmental policy—his work has bridged science, stewardship, and state and federal partnerships. He now serves as Manager of Natural Resources with Duke Energy’s Environmental Sciences department, where he coordinates everything from aquatic and avian studies to endangered species programs and habitat restoration across the Southeast United States. But perhaps most notably, Scott is a teacher at heart. For over two decades, he has volunteered with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation leading wildlife walks, advising on policy, raising funds, and mentoring communities with the deep belief that conservation begins with connection.
After a brief introduction, Scott led our group of eager nature enthusiasts down a grassy hill and onto a wooded path. The red North Carolina clay guided us between tall hardwood trees, their outstretched branches thick with green leaves and male cicadas vibrating their tymbals in a high pitched mating call. Mosquitos buzzed their own higher harmony. Grasshoppers jumped at our feet as moths flit between the trees. Alive with insects, the humid summer evening gave promise to a night of peak bat activity. The group—families, students, enthusiasts and seasoned naturalists alike—paused occasionally to take in the wonder of nature, listen for rustling leaves, and catch glimpses of movement overhead.
The trees parted into a grassy corridor that ran against the forest and the edge of the river. The crunching of gravel muffled as we meandered onto the soft open grassy area that overlooked the water. Frog’s churring, croaks and the occasional bellow of a bullfrog now dominated the night’s melody as we set up our chairs and settled in to learn. Amber colors seeped past the horizon as the sun dipped behind the trees while Scott shared about bats and their essential role in our ecosystems. He spoke of their remarkable ability to echolocate, navigating in complete darkness with ultrasonic chirps that bounce through the night air. He explained that bats are mammals, just like us, and that mother bats give birth to a single pup each year. These pups, born without the ability to fly, cling tightly to their mothers in their earliest days—a stage scientists refer to as being “non-volant.” The group leaned in, drawn to someone who spoke beyond the study of books and knew the bats not just by name, but by sound, by flight, by echo and in every stage of life.
We learned that many bats in North Carolina prefer to roost in the bark of trees, under bridges, or in quiet, protected structures, and that some even hibernate in caves throughout the winter, entering a vulnerable state of torpor. Scott emphasized just how delicate this balance is—how even small disturbances can interrupt a bat’s hibernation and threaten its survival. With each fact, the sense of wonder deepened. These furry creatures are devoted mothers, agile hunters, and critical contributors to our shared environment. Absorbed into Scott’s teaching, we hardly noticed the sky had gone completely dark.
Red and white light streaked into the dark as headlamps were turned on so we could study the echolocation handouts Scott brought. We were introduced to the fascinating tools of the trade—an infrared scope and bat echolocation detector. With the help of Scott’s equipment and expertise, the forest began to come alive in new and unexpected ways. We spotted multiple bat species flying overhead, many using the tree-lined edges of the water as a natural flight corridor. Watching the live sonar signal “j” shapes dance across the screen as bats chirped and hunted in the darkness was nothing short of enthralling. We learned that, when closing in on prey, a bat can click as fast as 200 times per second to hone in on the precise location of its next meal. The night moved around us, a reminder that there is an entire world pulsing with life, mystery and wonder for us to learn from when we slow down and observe.
Bat Detection Event attendee learns about bat echolocation from handouts provided by wildlife biologist Scott Fletcher during a bat education event hosted by NCWF’s Piedmont Chapter Triad Wild! at Haw River State Park
Beyond being fascinating creatures, bats are ecosystem heroes. A single bat can consume up to a thousand mosquitoes in an hour, offering natural pest control that protects both people and crops. They support pollination, regulate insect populations helping with biodiversity, and keep delicate food webs in balance. Without them, many ecosystems—including those here in the Piedmont Triad—would suffer and fail. As Scott reminded us, our region is home to seventeen bat species, each playing a vital role. From dense forests and winding rivers to the quiet corners of our own backyards, these flying mammals find spaces to roost, forage, and raise their young—reminding us that conservation isn’t just something that happens deep out in the wilderness, but right here where we live.
The night also brought to light a sobering reality—white-nose syndrome (WNS). This fast-spreading fungal disease has already decimated bat populations across the country, including here in North Carolina. Species like the little brown bat have seen population declines of over 90% in just the last decade due to this devastating fungus. Scott explained how WNS disrupts hibernation cycles, causing bats to awaken too often and burn through fat stores before food is available again. The result is widespread mortality among even the most common species of bats we rely on for critical ecosystem services.
It was encouraging to learn just how easy it is to take action and help our flying mammal friends. From installing a bat house in your backyard to provide a safe roosting space, avoiding pesticides which poison the bats food supply, keeping outdoor lights low at night to installing native plant gardens, Scott offered easy actions that everyone can take to help with bat and ecosystem conservation.
Lively discussion, exclamations of amazement and laughter floated up into the sky mingling with the flightpaths of the bats feeding above us. After we each had the opportunity to use the echolocation detector and thermal scope, people slowly packed their gear, reluctant to leave the night behind. The chattering of thirty people trickled down to three quiet observers sharing their love of bats in low excited heaves of conversation. Long after the last of us walked from the grassy corridor, back through the trees and the final car doors shut, the chorus of night carried on along the river’s edge—unfolding, unbothered and full of life. We departed Haw River State Park with a renewed appreciation for bats, a deeper understanding of the challenges they face, and a shared sense of wonder for the wild that surrounds us.
North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s Piedmont Triad Chapter - Triad Wild! - hosts a bat education night at Haw River State Park with wildlife biologist Scott Fletcher.