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There are more than 1,400 species of bats worldwide, but have you ever wondered how many species of bats call Minnesota home? Come celebrate and learn about the unique role that bats play in our world during International Bat Week at our Bloomington Education and Visitor Center! The theme for the 2025 Minnesota Bat Festival is, "Water is life: for bats and Minnesotans," which coincides with the We Are Water MN exhibit that will be housed at the Visitor Center during the same time as the festival. Get ready to dive into our shared connection to water with a day of free activities, including:
-Live Bat Programs- meet Edgar and Eugene, both big brown bats native to Minnesota
-Batty Costume Contest- New this year! More details coming soon
-Explore the "Bat Cave"
Explore the ever-popular cave and see how many (pretend!) bats and other cave critters you can find hiding in the cave
-Be a Bat Biologist!
Ever wonder how biologists study bats? See a real bat net, try your hand at "bat tracking," and hear about the acoustic technology that is allowing us to learn about bats' whereabouts throughout Minnesota
-Bat Disease Research- see how scientists are battling for bats' survival by studying one of the threats that haunts our bats, white-nose syndrome
-Bat House Information Station- get all the details on how to make a safe home for a bat maternity colony (congregation of female bats and their pups) and enter to win a bat house
-Planting for Bats and Other Wildlife- hear about what bats look for in establishing their summertime forest homes and take a home a free tree to plant in your yard!
-Get Crafty with new Batty Crafts- make and bring home your own 2025 Minnesota Bat Festival ink print
-Bat Trivia- test your bat smarts and win a prize!
-And much more!
Food trucks will be available on site!
Find more information on our website: https://www.fws.gov/event/2025-minnesota-bat-festival
Accessibility at Bloomington Visitor Center:
Restrooms and water fountains are located inside the visitor center. Handicap parking and dropoff available. Visitor center is flat aggregate or carpeted flooring with ramps to access all areas. There are benches and rest areas around the visitor center.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Jill Utrup at [email protected].
This is an official We Are Water event. We Are Water MN is a program of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.
It is funded by the Clean Water Fund, part of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.
Image courtesy of USFWS.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN, United States, Minnesota 55425, 3815 American Blvd E, Minneapolis, MN 55425-1659, United States, Mendota
