We Love Maine Bats

Steve Pelletier and Trevor Peterson: Wildlife Biologists

Wednesday, February 14, 2018
7:00pm : Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick


Northern Long Eared Bat. Photo: James Kiser

Join wildlife biologists Trevor Peterson and Steve Pelletier this Valentine’s Day in showing bats some love at the fifth presentation of Friends of Merrymeeting Bay’s 21st annual winter speaker series. Bats are one of the most diverse groups of mammals globally, yet we know very little about them. The life history traits of bats are fascinating and unique, but contribute to the fear and misunderstanding characterizing centuries of human attitudes towards bats. Bats’ habits also make them singularly difficult to study.   Steve Pelletier This presentation will let you in on some of the tools and tricks biologists use to study bats, teach you about the remarkable history about how humans discovered echolocation, and summarize lessons learned from monitoring bats throughout the country over the past decade. In particular, you’ll learn about bats that live in Maine, what species of bats have been living in your attic all these years, and why bat populations are undergoing unprecedented shifts in North America. Whether you think bats are the coolest thing around or are terrified about them, this presentation will teach you some things you didn’t already know about bats. Hopefully you’ll walk away knowing why we should all love bats!  Trevor Peterson works as a biologist and project manager for Stantec Consulting in Topsham, ME, where he specializes in work related to renewable energy projects, bat migration, and rare species assessments. Since joining the company in 2003, Trevor’s project experience has included vernal pool water quality and ecological monitoring, spotted turtle inventory and telemetry, natural community characterization, acoustic bat surveys, breeding bird surveys, vegetation monitoring, and raptor surveys. Trevor Peterson  Steve Pelletier does bugs and bunny work in an ever changing world of technology. He’s a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Licensed Forester who’s made a living for over 30 years looking at trees, plants, and muddy places, as well as a whole host of furry, feathered, scaly - sometimes dead, sometimes crawly – critters. Steve’s designed and managed avian and bat studies throughout the US utilizing a variety of tools and techniques including x-band and NEXRAD radars, infra-red, thermal, and acoustic technologies. He designed and served as Principal Investigator of, a 6-year offshore acoustic bat study in the Gulf of Maine, mid-Atlantic coast, and Great Lakes regions on behalf of the US Department of Energy. Steve was co-founder & owner of the local ecological consulting company, Woodlot Alternatives, for 20 years until it was acquired by the Canadian firm, Stantec, where he continues to work today as Senior Principal and US Ecological Lead. All Speaker Series events are free, open to the public and supported by Patagonia, Inc. in Freeport. The March 14 presentation, Solar Energy for ME features Dylan Vorhees, Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Representative Seth Berry. This event takes place in the Morrell Meeting Room of Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick. Visit www.fomb.org to see speaker biographies, full event schedules, become a member, and learn more about how you can help protect beautiful Merrymeeting Bay. For more information contact FOMB at 207-666-1118 or fomb@comcast.net. Part 1   Part 2