It’s Halloween season, a time when bats appear in holiday decorations and spooky stories. But beyond their eerie reputation, bats are year-round neighbors in Kentucky and a vital part of our environment.

Matthew Springer is an associate professor of wildlife management at the University of Kentucky. His work focuses on wildlife ecology, human-wildlife interactions and conservation outreach.

I spoke with Matthew about Kentucky’s bat species, the threats they face, and what people can do to support them.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Ayisha Jaffer: So let's start with the basics. How many species of bats do we have here in Kentucky, and which ones are the most common for people to actually see?

Matthew Springer: Technically, we have 14 species that are really

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