This ‘bat girl’ champions area’s flying friends

Krysta Fowler holding one of her custom-made bat houses. COURTESY PHOTO

Krysta Fowler might seem like an ordinary, mild-mannered high school student. But she’s really a superhero.

At least, to bats.

She doesn’t have to slide down a pole into a cave to don a costume. She doesn’t even have a costume, except for her Girl Scout uniform, which is embellished with just about every badge she could earn.

But to the bats that dwell in Southwest Florida, she could easily be a member of the Justice League.

While most of her peers focus on badge requirements and cookie sales, Fowler has decided to embark on a unique endeavor: creating sanctuaries for bats.

A self-monikered “bat-vocate,” the North Port resident’s introduction to the world of bats all started a year ago, when she was in the 10th grade. While walking down a hallway at school, she had seen a small bat (which she described as “irresistibly adorable”) on the wall. She explained what happened next in her blog:

“A few minutes later, my friends came in and one of them spoke up, saying something about a bat. I listened immediately as she explained how she and her friends found a bat on the ground when they entered school. I realized the bat must have dropped to the ground, whether on purpose or accident, my friends and I couldn’t tell. She, in order to protect the bat, tried to form a loose circle around the bat with our friends, however, another student pushed through and stepped on the bat.”

LEFT: Krysta Fowler with one of her installed bat houses. ABOVE: Krysta Fowler flanked by members of Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda. The organization helped with her research.

Distraught that such cruelty could be perpetrated on such a small, defenseless creature, Fowler decided from that point onward that she would do what she could to prevent other bats from getting injured or killed. So, she decided to turn her reaction into actionable change: a project that is committed to protecting bats.

At this point, having already been a role model in her Girl Scout troop, Fowler decided to make her newfound passion for bats the main focus of her Gold Award project, which is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. This achievement represents a combination of a scout’s unbridled dedication, leadership and commitment to making a meaningful impact on the local community and beyond.

She wrote a formal proposal to the committee, ensuring that it was full of pertinent information that would surely advocate (or “bat-vocate”?) for a strong case. Sure enough, this would be one of many proponents that has allowed the project to reach the status it has attained. It only continued to grow once the Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda decided to help Fowler with her research. What’s more, the organization even introduced her to two of its “ambassador” bats.

In the twilight hours, while others retreat indoors, Fowler can most often be found crafting wooden bat habitats designed to provide safe haven for these misunderstood creatures of the night. By the beginning of October, she had assembled and painted 26 of the custom bat houses and requested permission from the city of North Port to start putting them up. By mid-December, with the help of city workers, all of the houses were installed. Fowler has also put up bat houses at her Girl Scout camps in Bradenton and Fort Myers.

Fowler assembled and painted 26 custom bat houses, and received permission from her home city of North Port to begin installing them with the help of city workers. She also installed houses at her Girl Scout camps in Bradenton and Fort Myers. COURTESY PHOTOS

But her mission far exceeds the process of constructing the sanctuaries. It is a testament to the power of one young mind to incite change and inspire others to see the world through a different lens.

Creating the bat sanctuaries is not just a testament to Fowler’s dedication to conservation. “Hopefully, younger scouts will go home and realize the significance in caring for them, “Fowler said.

As they continue to watch the effects of the project firsthand, they are not just observers — they are empowered to make a difference on their own. Also, the project doubles as an educational opportunity, offering insights into the species of bats, especially considering their prevalence in the Sunshine State.

For instance, Florida houses 13 species of bats, with the Brazilian free-tailed bat being the most common of the bunch. From an economic standpoint, they are certainly diligent at consuming copious amounts of insect pests — including moths, beetles and other species of bugs that impact agricultural crops throughout the state.

As Fowler’s group (which includes her family) dives deeper into the project, they discover fascinating insights into the diverse bat species inhabiting Florida, shedding light on their ecological relevance and economic contributions to local agriculture.

To better recognize all of her efforts to date, Fowler was to be honored with a special bat proclamation on April 4 at North Port City Hall. The event aims to spread awareness about the importance of bats and the role they play in our ecosystems.

With International Bat Appreciation Day on April 17, Fowler’s dedication to the creatures’ well-being will continue to serve as an inspiration to many.

For those eager to learn more about Fowler’s project and all of its accolades, her website ( www.batvocateswfl.com ) offers a wealth of information detailing her initiatives and accomplishments to date. There, you can uncover the full extent of her efforts and gain valuable insights into the importance of protecting these vital creatures and their ecosystems, as well as find information — and debunked misinformation — about bats. ¦

The post This ‘bat girl’ champions area’s flying friends first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .