When you think of urban wildlife, critters like rats, pigeons, and raccoons may come to mind – but what about bats? Maryland is home to 10 species of bats. Bats often have a scary reputation but play an important role in ecosystems and face conservation threats. Ela will talk about what led her to study bats in Baltimore, how she studied them, and what results she uncovered. She will also talk about threats to bats and ways we can support them as their neighbors.
Dr. Ela-Sita Carpenter is a Baltimore born-and-raised wildlife biologist. Her time as a child exploring local parks and her backyard fostered her love of nature and taught her at an early age to seek out nature in the city. She received her Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Missouri, her M.S. in Environmental Science from Christopher Newport University, and her B.Sc. degree in Biology from Hampton University. Her past research experience includes bird and bat research in Maryland, Nevada, and Virginia over the past 15 years. She has also worked as an educator with the Maryland Science Center and the Carrie Murray Nature Center and believes that it is just as important to share research with the general public as it is with fellow researchers. She is currently works at the US Fish and Wildlife Service as an Urban Wildlife Biologist at Masonville Cove Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership in south Baltimore.
