“BATSTOCK 2023” THE FIGHT FOR THE BATS
OF THE U.S. CONTINUES
Event Raises Awareness for threatened U.S. Bats and The
Center that houses them.
(Bergen County, NJ) – It’s Baaaaaaack! The all-ages event BATSTOCK, returns to NJ! Once again, the 3-day event will be featuring
an all-ages live music club event (SUNDAY, OCT. 1ST, DEBONAIR MUSIC
HALL, TEANECK, NJ) live-bat presentations and outdoor bat walks- All hosted by
New Jersey’s “Bat-Man”, bat specialist, Joseph D’Angeli.
"BATSTOCK" is D’Angeli’s 3-day answer to “International Bat
Night” —a global event highlighting these fascinating
animals celebrated
world-wide in August.
The “brainchild” of "BATSTOCK" is Joseph D'Angeli, Director of
The Wildlife Education and Conservation Center, a non-profit 501 c- 3 wildlife conservation and education
organization dedicated to bat conservation.
“BATSTOCK”
was the first ever bat festival to be held in New Jersey back in 2011, and it
couldn’t be at a better time to resume,” said D’Angeli, especially with all the
misinformation out there about the link between bats and Covid-19.
In autumn of 2010, the United Nations declared
2011-2012 as International Year of the Bat. The aim of Year of the Bat is
to raise global awareness about bats, bat conservation and the unique role bats
play in our environment. D’Angeli, partnered with Bat Conservation
International (BCI) in Austin, Texas, EuroBats of Germany, UNEP Convention of
Migratory Species (CMS), All have planned events in celebration of these incredibly
important flying mammals.
“For centuries, negative myths and misinformation have
generated needless fear and have
threatened bats and their habitats. BATSTOCK will help
educate people around the world about the benefits of bats. And knowledge is
the key.”
Since 2006, nearly 7 million of hibernating bats have
died from a disease known as White-nose Syndrome (WNS)- named for a cold-loving
white fungus typically found on the faces and wings of infected bats. WNS
causes bats to awaken during hibernation and use up the stored fat reserves
that are needed to get them through the winter. Infected bats often emerge too
soon from hibernation and are seen flying around midwinter. The bats usually succumb
to starvation or the disease itself which affects their upper respiratory
system and immune system.
This year’s BATSTOCK events are incredibly important as
The Wildlife Center is in danger of losing its home to a developer who has
purchased the property on which The Wildlife Center exists. The developer has
told The Wildlife Center that they do not plan on extending The Wildlife Centers
lease, and that they must move out as they plan on demolishing the building. (See
story on WABC TV NYC here: https://youtu.be/UqAxXF12CrM?feature=shared)
Proceeds collected from the events will go to White
Nose Syndrome research, and to The Wildlife Conservation Center’s ongoing bat
conservation and education efforts.
