Did you know that bats offer numerous ecosystem services globally, including pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal? Here in Virginia, bats are critical members of our agricultural ecosystems, consuming thousands of insect pests each night.

Erin Shibley, a wildlife biologist with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, will present an interactive program about the behavior and ecological benefits of bats. This presentation will share Smithsonian research updates from a new Virginia Working Landscapes’ study in Rappahannock County that explores how bats utilize foraging habitat across agricultural landscapes. Attendees will learn about conservation challenges to North American bat populations and how everyone can get involved to help support bats on their own properties.

Erin Shibley is the Survey and Volunteer Coordinator for the Virginia Working Landscapes (VWL) Program under the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. VWL is a Smithsonian-led research program that promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land-use through research, education, and community engagement. Along with a team of ecologists, Shibley supports VWL’s research-based program, working with community volunteers and private landowners to collect standardized inventory and long-term ecological data with the purpose of informing conservation approaches for native biodiversity. Shibley received a B.S. in Biology from James Madison University in 2016 and M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from Frostburg State University in 2018. Her professional experience includes surveying various wildlife communities; evaluating relationships between native biodiversity, habitat, and land management; and leading conservation-focused outreach and education initiatives.