The female bats at Sodalis Nature Preserve are in their maternity colonies now, getting ready to give birth this summer.
There will be a night hike through Sodalis Nature Preserve at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, as long as access to the trail and parking lot is available.
Volunteer members of the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalists who are directing the nature program, which is free to the public. Reservations may be made online at www.hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program
Sodalis Nature Preserve was named for the myotis sodalis (Indiana bat) species that was discovered in the park. Bat scientists are estimated that about 215,000 of the bats hibernate in the abandoned limestone mines.
The full Night Hike program lasts about two hours and follows a 2-mile paved trail.