Establishing roosting areas for endangered species of bats

Ameren Illinois has partnered with Grand Prairie Friends to help two endangered species of bats who make the conservation area their home. Volunteers have worked to restore trees along the Embarras River to attract the bats, but it will take several years for the trees to grow. In the interim, Ameren Illinois stepped up to set several power poles along with specially made nesting roosts to house the federally endangered Indiana bat and the federally threatened northern long-eared bat. In fact, nine of the 13 species of bats in Illinois make their home in Warbler Ridge Conservation Area.