We developed a species guide to go along with the 2016 National Park Service Bat Week project. You can use it to find the species in your region that we’d like to focus on. The guide includes bat species, invasive plant species, and native tree species where bats might roost. Every species has several tags, and here’s how to make the guide work for you.

You can print out the species list to use:

1. Go to the species guide (http://www.inaturalist.org/guides/4001) for the project.
2. On the left side of the page, you’ll see a list of tags. Click on your region. All of the bats, invasive plant species, and native trees from your region will be displayed.
3. If you’d like to only see the invasive plant species in your region, go to the tag list on the left, hover over EDRR Invasive plants, and click on the + that pops up. Now, only the invasive plants in your region are displayed.
4. To print, click on the PDF/Print button on the top right. This might be handy to email a list to participants or print out for their reference.

To use the tags on a mobile device:

1. On the bottom of the app, touch “more.” It’s in the bottom-right corner.
2. Click on Guides.
3. Click on 2016 National Park Service Bat Week. All of the species in the guide will display in a grid format.
4. In the upper right, click on the little icon that looks like a book next to 3 lines. This will show the tags list.
5. Scroll down to find your region and click on it. All of the species from your region will be displayed.

6. If you want to show only a specific group (bats, EDRR invasive plants, or native trees), then click on the same book icon in the top right, and click on the other group. Only those in your region will display.
   The guide is useful for showing the particular species of invasive plants that the Early Detection Rapid Response teams are looking for. You can also identify the native trees for bats to roost in and the bats that live in your region. Just explore and have fun, and thanks for taking some time to help bats!

This week is set aside to celebrate bats and their utterly unique roles in ecosystems worldwide. Additionally, Bat Week is a perfect opportunity to take some steps to help protect bats and their habitat. After all, climate change, habitat loss, wind turbines, and the disease called white-nose syndrome all seriously threaten bats and their survival.

This iNaturalist project aims to protect bat habitat so they have safe and healthy places to live, migrate, hibernate, and raise pups. Invasive plant species damage the ecosystems where bats live, displacing the native plants and insects bats need to survive.

We've made a guide of invasive plant species that scientists predict will enter different regions, disrupting the natural balance of an area. The best way to manage these harmful plants is to catch them early...that's where you come in! Use the iNaturalist app to take photos of these invasive species if you see them, and the Early Detection Rapid Response teams can use those observations to go to that location and stop their spread.

The guide also has information about native trees in your area where bats may roost, as well as common bat species. You probably won't see the bats, though, since they're nocturnal and tend to avoid people.

Thanks for spending some time to save the bats!