Help research Iowa's bats - various Iowa counties

Save to Favorites

Iowa DNR will conduct acoustic monitoring for bats along 19 road transects and 6 walking transects in central, eastern, and southern Iowa. We need volunteers to run road transects in the following counties: Dubuque, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Lucas, Marshall, and Story . There is also a need for walking transects in Boone and Story counties near Ames, Iowa. The walking transects occur at 3 public parks and 3 Iowa State University research farms.

Requirements:

- Flexible schedule (transects cannot be conducted during rainy, foggy, or windy conditions).

- Personal vehicle to drive the transect (or get to the walking transect location).

- Willingness to conduct a transect in June and again in July.

- Teams of at least 2 are needed to conduct a transect.

- Comfortable driving slowly (20 mph) on country roads (gravel) after dark (road transect).

- Comfortable walking slowly on park trails or field edges after dark (walking transect).

- Ability to accurately record data on datasheets.

- Willingness to coordinate with others to pick-up and exchange equipment that must be shared between transects. There will be only one acoustic unit that must be shared among 4 routes so each time volunteers would like to run their route they will need check on the availability of a unit, pick it up and then drop it off after the run’s completion.

- Volunteers must be willing to commit to conducting both runs of the survey for at least one year. It is crucial that both runs are completed as directed.

- Must be able to attend a 2 hour training to be held in the latter half of May.

- Comfortable with technology and willingness to learn how to use the recording equipment.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY CONTACT STEPHANIE SHEPHERD AT STEPHANIE.SHEPHERD@DNR.IOWA.GOV.

Thank you for your interest in Iowa's wildlife.