BUFFALO, N.Y. — Halloween is near, and you've probably seen bats used in home and yard displays during the past month.

With that visibility in mind, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding people that Bat Week is underway. It started Oct. 24 and runs through Halloween.

Part of the weeklong observance includes the DEC urging outdoor enthusiasts to avoid entering caves and mines this fall and winter to help protect the state’s vulnerable bat populations. The group says the annual observance highlights the vital role bats play in ecosystems and the growing need for conservation amid ongoing threats to their survival.

"During Bat Week, DEC is highlighting the important role bats play in our environment and natural ecosystem and that we all should do what we

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