Paula Tuttle. April 19, 2014. Field Work/Photography. Common Slit-faced Bat ( Nycteris thebaica) eating a green stink bug in flight. Thanks to help from a local macademia grower, Koos Steyn, here in South Africa, we finally got approximately 100 green stink bugs, the most costly pest of macademias, and were able to coax our common slit-faced ...In September 2020, many of Merlin’s photos were included in a book published in Chinese titled, “揭秘夜空精灵——蝙蝠”. In English, the title could be translated as: “Uncovering the Secrets of the Night Sky Fairies——Bats.”. Premature speculation attributing the COVID pandemic to bats led to widespread intolerance and ...Jun 24, 2020 · Jun 24, 2020. 14 Mins. Bats are enigmatic nocturnal flying mammals. There are over 14-hundred species that we know of worldwide, 33 of which are known to live in Texas. Many are threatened. And Dr. Merlin Tuttle--part Indiana Jones and part Bill Nye the Science Guy--has led the bat conservation charge worldwide. Play. March 28, 2016. Field Work/Photography. We are in Trinidad working with Trinibats, co-founded by Trinidad-born naturalist, Geoffrey Gomes, who first contacted Merlin in 2009 for advice on how to convince his government to remove bats from its vermin list. Inspired with new insights, Geoffrey has since become a self-taught, enthusiastic bat man.Dec 20, 2015 · Merlin Tuttle’s memoir “The Secret Lives of Bats” is a testament to the author’s lifelong passion for a very misunderstood mammal. Aug 26, 2022 · To celebrate Tuttle’s 81st birthday Friday, a bat-watching sunset cruise, hosted by Merlin himself, will take place on a Capitol Cruises double-decker capital boat at 6:30 p.m. Merlin Tuttle February 15, 2018 Bat Houses, Resources: Bat Houses; Typically, the first question about bats in buildings is, “Aren’t they dangerous?” In my experience, the greatest risks stem from panicked responses, not from the bats themselves. Once the fear factor is removed, the options for problem solving are often relatively simple.Bat-Friendly Bridges Help Farmers. Merlin Tuttle. September 13, 2018. Bat Flash, Conservation, Organic Pest Control. Dave Wyatt (holding light) and Gregg Erickson inspecting an old wooden causeway for bats in 1996. Thanks to their efforts, the California Department of Transportation worked diligently during replacement to ensure bats were ...Merlin Tuttle began building his Bat Photo Collection in 1966 while leading expeditions for the Smithsonian in Venezuela. It includes 381 bat species and the world’s most comprehensive coverage of bat diversity, behavior, and values. It is irreplaceable and has served as literally the backbone of science, education and conservation ...Dear Mr. Merlin Tuttle, I am Shera, a bat scientist from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. I have studied bats since 2013, studying their ecosystem services and establishing locally-led conservation to protect the flying colony from hunting in Central Sulawesi ( www.progressulawesi.id ). Merlin Devere Tuttle (born August 26, 1941) is an American ecologist, conservationist, writer and wildlife photographer who has specialized in bat ecology, behavior, and conservation. He is credited with protecting the Austin Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony from extermination. Advancing Bat Conservation in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park. December 14, 2023. Merlin Tuttle preparing to photograph drinking bats at waterhole, but first having to resolve a water rights dispute with a large male warthog. Wading nearly.August 26th – Inaugural Merlin Tuttle Day. August 30, 2021. We surprised Merlin – yes, actually surprised – with a birthday celebration for his 80th birthday on August 26, 2021, in Austin, Texas. And Mayor. Read More.Merlin Tuttle December 27, 2021 Disease, Resources: Bats and Diseases in Perspective; Bats Mistakenly Accused in Search for Ebola Origin. For more than a decade, virologists have speculated that Ebola outbreaks would be traced to bats. And sensational media headlines have turned speculation into “fact.”Words of wisdom from explorer/American treasure/bat expert, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Alie headed to the bat capital of Austin and sat down with the legendary chiropterologist to discuss wild field stories and close calls and caves and comebacks and bat chatter and what a bat actually is and how big they get and what's up with their smushy noses, why ...Merlin Tuttle recounts his long history of bat conservation from his early days as a teenage citizen scientist through 50 years of research across the globe. He tells thrilling stories about cave explorations that kept me on the edge of my seat. He also explains ingenious experiments and clever traps put in place to discover hidden secrets ...Oct 30, 2015 · Tuttle comes across as a conservationist and scientist first, a combination of Indiana Jones and Mark Trail second. The book is an adventure tale whose reward is always bats. PART 2: The stunning conclusion of a 3-hour gab session about frickin' bats with America's favorite chiropterologist, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Learn about bat conversations, their close friendships, surprising dongs, where they keep their nipples, how to go bat spotting after the sun sets, more myths and misconceptions about bat danger, perhaps …Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation is a 501c3 nonprofit that inspires bat conservation worldwide. Founded in 2014 in Austin, Texas, it is Merlin Tuttle’s newest contribution to the world of bat conservation. Relying on a powerful combination of science, field knowledge, and photography, MTBC is helping save millions of bats through Merlin’s ...The Amazing World of Bat Pollinators. Paula Tuttle. February 17, 2015. Conservation. A brown long-tongued bat ( Glossophaga commissarisi) is pollinating a Tricanthera flower in Panama. Since finally returning home from a year of extensive travel on behalf of bats, Merlin has been preoccupied with final editing and photo submission for his new ...Merlin Tuttle June 4, 2017 Conservation, Resources: Threats to Bats; The largest losses of cave-dwelling bats often occur prior to a cave’s discovery by cavers or bat biologists. When looking for bat roosts we simply ask …Merlin Tuttle’s memoir “The Secret Lives of Bats” is a testament to the author’s lifelong passion for a very misunderstood mammal. Share story. By. Curt Schleier. Special to … Since its first publication in 1988, America’s Neighborhood Bats has changed the way we look at bats by underscoring their harmless and beneficial nature. In this second revised edition, Merlin Tuttle offers bat aficionados the most up-to-date bat facts, including a wealth of new information on bat house design and current threats to bat ... Bats and Chocolate Production. Merlin Tuttle. June 13, 2018. Bats, Organic Pest Control. While conducting her Ph.D. thesis research, Bea Maas and her team (Maas et al. 2013) collected data that would surprise even her. When insect-eating bats and birds were excluded from cacao trees in Sulawesi, Indonesia, the crop yield fell by 31 percent.September 19 – 21 and September 22 – 23, 2024. Experience the amazing world of bats in this hands-on workshop with leading experts Merlin Tuttle, Janet Tyburec, and Troy Swift. Learn bat house building, bat capture methods, echolocation recording, sustainable agriculture, and more. Stay for our acoustic training event, perfect for ... Dr. Merlin Tuttle is widely recognized as the father of modern bat conservation. He's an internationally known leader in research, conservation and photography of bats. His photos and research ... Merlin Tuttle is an ecologist, wildlife photographer, and conservationist who has studied bats and championed their preservation for over 60 years. He's the founder of Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation, home to his legacy and devoted to research, education and the conservation of bats. www.merlintuttle.org Learn more about your ad choices. ... Merlin’s History 1959-1979 When Merlin began studying gray bats the species was in such precipitous decline that leading experts were predicting extinction. He documented gray bat needs, educated cave owners and sport cavers to value and protect bats, single handedly gained a federal endangered species listing and led recovery efforts. Cavers were encouraged to become […] We’re delighted to invite our members to join on Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation workshops. We’re on a trip of a lifetime! Help support the trip efforts here. Join as a member to catch the next one! 21st OCTOBER – 1st NOVEMBER 2022LAKE WASA LODGE Accommodations for this first leg will be shared chalets at the […]Merlin Tuttle September 14, 2018 Bat Flash, Bats, Disease; Every year around this time there is a spike in needlessly sensational rabies stories featuring exaggerations of truth. We always encourage others to respond politely to editors, authors, decision makers and media personnel when they see these. Editors’ jobs depend on readership and ...Feb 22, 2024 · Merlin Tuttle and Joanna Langdale quietly observing a painted bat (Kerivoula picta) roosting in a dead banana leaf. Brynn Tarnowsky and Gwen Brewer digging holes to plant some new banana trees. These trees will be future roosts for the painted bats (Kerivoula picta) in a safe and undisturbed area. Merlin Tuttle hosting the meeting at which industry and government leaders agreed to his invitation to form the Bats and Wind Energy Collaborative, a group that made outstanding progress in jointly funding leading scientists to develop credible monitoring methodology as well as remedies for preventing bat kills. Though some companies ...Merlin Tuttle June 24, 2021 Conservation; For more than a century, Australia’s flying foxes have been misunderstood, hated, and persecuted. Targeted for extermination, countless thousands have been killed. Vast populations have been reduced to endangered status and are now additionally threatened by climate change and exaggerated disease ... The new bridge design included expansion joints that inadvertently created roosting cavities for bats - tiny Mexican Free-tailed Bats - eventually one and one-half million of them! At first, many people perceived the legions of bats as a threat. But Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, helped bring people around. With your planned gift to Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation you can make a lasting investment in conserving bats, erasing needless fear, and securing a healthier future for human beings. Join the Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation Legacy Endowment by making a planned gift through your will, trust, retirement account, or donation of other ...Dec 18, 2019 · Immediately: 1) capture the animal for rabies testing; 2) wash the wound or area of contact with soap and water or alcohol; and 3) seek medical evaluation. A bat in your home is generally catchable. If it is flying around don’t flee and later wonder where it hid. Watch it till it lands. Sep 13, 2023 · Advancing Bat Conservation in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park. December 14, 2023. Merlin Tuttle preparing to photograph drinking bats at waterhole, but first having to resolve a water rights dispute with a large male warthog. Wading nearly. Aug 26, 2022 · To celebrate Tuttle’s 81st birthday Friday, a bat-watching sunset cruise, hosted by Merlin himself, will take place on a Capitol Cruises double-decker capital boat at 6:30 p.m. Dr. MERLIN TUTTLE is an ecologist, wildlife photographer, and conservationist who has studied bats worldwide for more than fifty years. He founded Bat Conservation International in 1982 and Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation in 2014. His work has been featured in Science, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and National Geographic. ...Merlin Tuttle is the author of The Secret Lives of Bats (4.29 avg rating, 1365 ratings, 226 reviews, published 2015), Bats (4.21 avg rating, 19 ratings, ...Merlin Tuttle’s memoir “The Secret Lives of Bats” is a testament to the author’s lifelong passion for a very misunderstood mammal. Share story. By. Curt Schleier. Special to …7.66K subscribers. Subscribe. 2.2K views 1 year ago. Visible is proud to share the story of Merlin Tuttle, the batman of Austin. Merlin’s unique curiosity and passion for bats have shifted and...Merlin Tuttle, who founded Bat Conservation International in 1982 and spent the last 27 years building it into the leading defender of bats worldwide, is stepping back from his leadership role. Merlin is resigning as President/Executive …Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation - inspiring bat conservation worldwide. Home of Merlin Tuttle and his 60+ year legacy. 501c3 nonprofit org. Austin, TX merlintuttle.org/merlin-tuttle-… Joined March 2015. 238 …Dive into the heart of the Venezuelan Jungle with legendary wildlife expert Merlin Tuttle as he embarks on his most daring and unforgettable adventures. From...Feb 16, 2014 · By Susan McGrath. February 16, 2014. • 12 min read. Merlin Tuttle, the world's most famous bat biologist and booster, has devoted his life to studying, demystifying, and helping conserve bats ... In January 1984, Merlin had written an article for the Smithsonian magazine about his trip to Thailand entitled “Harmless, highly beneficial, bats still get a bum rap.” In it he stated: “more than a million bats support an entire village of guano miners, but are about to be destroyed by an expanding limestone quarry. ... Merlin Tuttle ... Through his organization, Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation (MTBC), Dr. Tuttle provides the world's finest bat photo gallery, the most up-to-date responses to misinformation about bats, and access to his over 60 years of unique expertise. He founded and led Bat Conservation International (BCI) for 30 years, retiring from leadership in 2009. The new bridge design included expansion joints that inadvertently created roosting cavities for bats - tiny Mexican Free-tailed Bats - eventually one and one-half million of them! At first, many people perceived the legions of bats as a threat. But Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, helped bring people around. Merlin Tuttle June 24, 2021 Conservation; For more than a century, Australia’s flying foxes have been misunderstood, hated, and persecuted. Targeted for extermination, countless thousands have been killed. Vast populations have been reduced to endangered status and are now additionally threatened by climate change and exaggerated disease ...With your planned gift to Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation you can make a lasting investment in conserving bats, erasing needless fear, and securing a healthier future for human beings. Join the Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation Legacy Endowment by making a planned gift through your will, trust, retirement account, or donation of other ...Merlin Tuttle was hired to co-direct the project for the first two years. He arrived in Venezuela with his field team at a time of extreme unrest. Communist insurgents were robbing banks, engaging in gun battles at the national university and killing police in downtown Caracas. Merlin was captured by communist guerillas.Merlin’s Opinion Letter, “ Fear of Bats and its Consequences ,” was published in the Journal of Bat Research and Conservation. This is a thoroughly documented report on how exaggerated disease claims against …Map created by Jim Barker of New Tribes Mission, June 1964, from Merlin Tuttle’s personal records Braniff flight #542 from Washington Dulles touched down at Aeropuerto Internacional de Maiquetia “Simón Bolívar,” on a muggy December evening in 1966. The passengers poured from the clamshell door down the airstair to the sizzling …Paula Tuttle. April 16, 2015. Conservation. Wrinkle-lipped bat emergence at one of the caves (Tarum) in Battambang, Cambodia. We spent two nights at the Battambang Bat Caves in Cambodia to photograph the incredible emergences of the Asian wrinkle-lipped bats ( Chaerephon plicatus). With help from Thona, our colleague and interpreter, Merlin ...How I Photograph Bats. Merlin Tuttle. September 14, 2019. Field Work/Photography, Resources: From Merlin's Desk. I learned to photograph bats as an act of desperation. If efforts to conserve bats were to succeed, people needed to see them as they naturally are–gentle, inquisitive, even beautiful. In the 1970s nearly everyone “knew” …Merlin teaching attendees about the importance of bat houses. We suspect that Troy ‘s use of ¾”-thick, rough-sawn Pecky cypress wood helps shield bats from temperature extremes. This wood, salvaged after floods, rivals redwood for durability, is lightweight, and can last up to 50 years, even without paint. In Troy’s orchards, bats ...Australian Flying Foxes Need Help. Merlin Tuttle. January 10, 2017. Bat Flash, Conservation. As one who in 1985 played a lead role in convincing the New South Wales (NSW) Minister for the Environment and Planning, Bob Carr, to provide statewide protection for flying foxes, I am extremely disappointed to see such progress reversed decades later ...Merlin Tuttle. March 16, 2017. Books, MTBC Blog, White-nose syndrome. Conservation and Ecology of Pennsylvania’s Bats, edited by C.M. Butchkoski, D.M. Reeder, G.G. Turner, and H.P. Whidden. 2017, is a publication of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Twenty-eight contributors cover a wide variety of conservation-relevant topics.Merlin Tuttle, the world's most famous bat biologist and booster, has devoted his life to studying, demystifying, and helping conserve bats. He's also photographed them—a statement that doesn't...The entire remaining North American population of Indiana myotis is just a tiny fraction of the number that once relied on Mammoth Cave as a key refuge. Merlin Tuttle and Indiana State biologist, Scott Johnson discussing the improved gate and further needs at Wyandotte Cave. Left: This photo from 1914 illustrates how America’s greatest bat ...In 2007, the official journal of the College of Family Physicians of Canada commissioned a systematic review titled, “Cancer health effects of pesticides.”. This review of 104 studies found consistent evidence linking pesticide exposure to a wide variety of cancers, ranging from childhood leukemia to breast, prostate, and brain cancer.A Terrifying Time for Bats. Merlin Tuttle. July 2, 2017. Disease. The past month has seen a virtual explosion of premature speculation presented as though it were now proven fact, much of it traceable to a single article titled, “ Bats are global reservoir for deadly coronaviruses ,” that appeared in the June 14, 2017 issue of Nature.Merlin Tuttle hosting the meeting at which industry and government leaders agreed to his invitation to form the Bats and Wind Energy Collaborative, a group that made outstanding progress in jointly funding leading scientists to develop credible monitoring methodology as well as remedies for preventing bat kills. Though some companies ...Dec 20, 2015 · Merlin Tuttle’s memoir “The Secret Lives of Bats” is a testament to the author’s lifelong passion for a very misunderstood mammal. March 28, 2016. Field Work/Photography. We are in Trinidad working with Trinibats, co-founded by Trinidad-born naturalist, Geoffrey Gomes, who first contacted Merlin in 2009 for advice on how to convince his government to remove bats from its vermin list. Inspired with new insights, Geoffrey has since become a self-taught, enthusiastic bat man.Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation is a 501c3 nonprofit that inspires bat conservation worldwide. Founded in 2014 in Austin, Texas, it is Merlin Tuttle’s newest contribution to the world of bat conservation. Relying on a powerful combination of science, field knowledge, and photography, MTBC is helping save millions of bats through Merlin’s ...Visible is proud to share the story of Merlin Tuttle, the batman of Austin. Merlin’s unique curiosity and passion for bats have shifted and shaped the mindse... The new bridge design included expansion joints that inadvertently created roosting cavities for bats - tiny Mexican Free-tailed Bats - eventually one and one-half million of them! At first, many people perceived the legions of bats as a threat. But Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, helped bring people around. Read Merlin’s article, Give Bats a Break, in the Spring 2017 edition of Issues in Science and Technology.. This report is based on Merlin’s review of thousands of scientific papers and popular media stories. And it is the first to expose how sensational speculation is fostering bad science in a self-perpetuating cycle of misdirected public … Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation. 15,133 likes · 49 talking about this. Inspiring bat conservation worldwide. Dr. Merlin Tuttle - RecognizeGood. After more than 60 years of bat conservation and education efforts (many of them as a volunteer), the driving force behind the preservation of the Austin Congress Avenue Bridge Bat colony Merlin Tuttle is a local Bat City legend. August 26th – Inaugural Merlin Tuttle Day. August 30, 2021. We surprised Merlin – yes, actually surprised – with a birthday celebration for his 80th birthday on August 26, 2021, in Austin, Texas. And Mayor. Read More.Approval Process for New Facilities Pre-siting Environmental Impact Studies: These are typically under-funded, inadequate to evaluate true wildlife risks, and often do not include objective, scientific peer review, either of methodology or results. Most are too short in duration and fail to consider the potential for turbines to attract bats in numbers not present …Merlin Tuttle is an internationally recognized leader in bat research, conservation, and photography. His photos and research have been featured in five National Geographic articles, the journal Science, and many other leading publications. Through his organization, Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation (MTBC), Dr. Tuttle provides the world's finest ...Merlin Tuttle. March 16, 2017. Books, MTBC Blog, White-nose syndrome. Conservation and Ecology of Pennsylvania’s Bats, edited by C.M. Butchkoski, D.M. Reeder, G.G. Turner, and H.P. Whidden. 2017, is a publication of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science. Twenty-eight contributors cover a wide variety of conservation-relevant topics.Merlin nearly had a heart attack when the taxi driver dropped his most fragile equipment 6 feet onto the pavement into a puddle. It’s rainy season here in Quito. The cacti are blooming in the high desert due to recent rains. With only 3 days notice that the cacti we needed to photograph are finally in bloom, we flew to Quito.Los Cedros Biological Reserve consists of 17,000 acres of premontane wet tropical forest and cloud forest. Of this, 2,650 acres is formerly colonized land, while the remainder is primary forest. The reserve is a southern buffer zone for the 450,000-acre Cotocachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, and both are part of the Choco Phytogeographical Zone.
Merlin Devere Tuttle is an American ecologist, conservationist, writer and wildlife photographer who has specialized in bat ecology, behavior, and conservation. He is credited with protecting the Austin Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony from extermination. Tuttle is currently active as founder and executive director of Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation in Austin, Texas.. Basically halal
Merlin Tuttle ropes down one of the multiple entrances to Fern Cave, while Makaria observes from below. Left: Melissa Donnelly preparing to descend into the sinkhole entrance to Fern Cave; Middle: Gray Bats roosting in Fern Cave, taken in 1971; Right: Melissa and Merlin preparing to cross the stream that flows beneath the large bat gate.Jun 5, 2018 · Insect-eating bats save farmers approximately $23 billion in annual agricultural losses in the United States alone. Millions of free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave, Texas eat more than 100 tons of insects nightly, intercepting billions of migrant pests before they can lay eggs, a huge savings to farmers. Just one bat can catch 1,000 mosquitoes ... Jun 24, 2020 · Jun 24, 2020. 14 Mins. Bats are enigmatic nocturnal flying mammals. There are over 14-hundred species that we know of worldwide, 33 of which are known to live in Texas. Many are threatened. And Dr. Merlin Tuttle--part Indiana Jones and part Bill Nye the Science Guy--has led the bat conservation charge worldwide. Play. Merlin Tuttle January 28, 2021 Bat Flash; USA Today’s January 17 story, Where did Covid-19 come from? leads with the following statement “The coronavirus that conquered the world came from a thumb-sized bat tucked inside a remote Chinese cave. Of …Bat Scan Project. MTBC preserves Merlin’s one-of-a-kind photo collection: the world’s most comprehensive coverage of bat diversity, behavior, and values. It is irreplaceable and has served as the backbone of worldwide bat science, education, and conservation for 40 years and counting. Learn More.Merlin Tuttle is the author of The Secret Lives of Bats (4.29 avg rating, 1365 ratings, 226 reviews, published 2015), Bats (4.21 avg rating, 19 ratings, ... www.merlintuttle.org Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation is the most recent contribution by Merlin Tuttle to the world of bats. Our mission is to inspire bat conservation worldwide. Visit www ... Merlin Tuttle ropes down one of the multiple entrances to Fern Cave, while Makaria observes from below. Left: Melissa Donnelly preparing to descend into the sinkhole entrance to Fern Cave; Middle: Gray Bats roosting in Fern Cave, taken in 1971; Right: Melissa and Merlin preparing to cross the stream that flows beneath the large bat gate.Bat-Friendly Bridges Help Farmers. Merlin Tuttle. September 13, 2018. Bat Flash, Conservation, Organic Pest Control. Dave Wyatt (holding light) and Gregg Erickson inspecting an old wooden causeway for bats in 1996. Thanks to their efforts, the California Department of Transportation worked diligently during replacement to ensure bats were ...Alexis Valentine trapping bats with a harp trap or the Tuttle trap, invented by Merlin. January 5, 2015. Hi Mr. & Mrs. Tuttle, I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year. I have to go back to school tomorrow. I’ve always thought bats were neat. Each year my school has a science fair. I wanted to try something creative and unique for my ...Merlin Tuttle. The colors of painted woolly bats camouflage them as they roost in the dead tip of a banana leaf. Painted woolly bats are known for their bright orange-and-black coloring, hues …Visible is proud to share the story of Merlin Tuttle, the batman of Austin. Merlin’s unique curiosity and passion for bats have shifted and shaped the mindse...Feb 15, 2019 · Any plywood used should be exterior grade. All interior surfaces and landing areas must be roughened, enabling bats to gain secure footing. Horizontal grooves 1/16″ deep at 1/4″ to 3/4″ intervals are ideal. However, grooves should not be cut more than 1/32″ deep for plywood surfaces to avoid early deterioration. Merlin teaching attendees about the importance of bat houses. We suspect that Troy ‘s use of ¾”-thick, rough-sawn Pecky cypress wood helps shield bats from temperature extremes. This wood, salvaged after floods, rivals redwood for durability, is lightweight, and can last up to 50 years, even without paint. In Troy’s orchards, bats ... Through his organization, Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation (MTBC), Dr. Tuttle provides the world's finest bat photo gallery, the most up-to-date responses to misinformation about bats, and access to his over 60 years of unique expertise. He founded and led Bat Conservation International (BCI) for 30 years, retiring from leadership in 2009. Merlin Tuttle September 14, 2020 Bat Houses, Resources: Bat Houses; Bat houses are outstanding tools for education. When I introduced them to Americans in 1982, my primary objective was to help people overcome fear and accept bats as valuable neighbors. That goal has been vastly exceeded.Merlin’s Opinion Letter, “ Fear of Bats and its Consequences ,” was published in the Journal of Bat Research and Conservation. This is a thoroughly documented report on how exaggerated disease claims against bats have harmed bats and efforts to conserve them over the past 47 years—something all who care about bats should know. Continue ... Merlin Tuttle was hired to co-direct the project for the first two years. He arrived in Venezuela with his field team at a time of extreme unrest. Communist insurgents were robbing banks, engaging in gun battles at the national university and killing police in downtown Caracas. Merlin was captured by communist guerillas. .