Providing Natural and Artificial Homes for Bats

Providing Natural and Artificial Homes for Bats

Author: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett November 27, 2023 Duration: 28:19

Join us this week as we chat with Dr. Joy O'Keefe about bats of Illinois and what we can do to support them. Bats are essential to a healthy ecosystem, as they eat insects that are pests to trees, crops, and us. Most bats use trees as their daytime roosts during spring, summer, and fall. If you have good places for bats to hunt for food, how do you attract them to roost on your property? Learn what makes good natural and artificial roost habitat for bats and other ways to support your local bat population.


Hosted by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett, Everyday Environment Podcast is a conversation about the natural systems that shape daily life in Illinois. It’s not just about distant wilderness; it’s about the water from your tap, the trees on your street, the birds at your feeder, and the energy powering your home. Each episode pulls on a single thread-be it soil health, local wildlife, or sustainable practices-to reveal the whole intricate web we’re a part of. You’ll hear clear explanations and practical insights that make the science of our surroundings accessible and immediately relevant. The goal is to move beyond abstract concepts and foster a tangible, deeper understanding of how these environmental connections work right outside our doors. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that equip you with knowledge about the air, land, and water in your own community, making the complexities of our shared ecosystem feel a little more familiar and a lot more connected to the choices we make every day. This podcast is one part of a broader educational effort, designed to engage curious residents who want to look a bit closer at the world around them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Everyday Environment Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Water connects us all: a season 2 preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:11
Preview what to expect from season two of Everyday Environment. Abigail, Erin, and Amy give listeners a peak behind the scenes of how the podcast is produced and what to expect in our upcoming season on water. Subscribe…
Exploring carbon markets as part of emissions reduction goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:11
This week we’re joined by Sarah Sellars, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems at South Dakota State University. We’re chatting with Sarah about agricultural carbon markets and…
Cover crops, not mudslides: empowering youth on climate change. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:54
Join us this week as we chat with Peggy Anesi about her career in empowering youth about climate change. By keeping it local and empowering them with realistic options for addressing climate change, we can build a citize…
Exploring the challenges facing pollinators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
Join us as we talk with Brodie Dunn, Outreach Associate in Biodiversity and Pollinators for Illinois Extension, about how pollinators are expected to respond to climate change. Learn more on the blog. Resources to learn…
Will invasive species be helped or hindered by climate change? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
This week we welcome Chris Evans to the podcast. Chris is an Extension Forestry and Research Specialist with Illinois Extension based in southern Illinois. We chat about what invasive species are, how their characteristi…
Understanding soil as a system [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:10
This week we chat with Michelle Wander, Emeritus Soil Scientist in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences department at University of Illinois. We go belowground to explore the importance of soil health, threat…