Welcome to the first edition of Art in the Field! This is a four-part series of illustrated essays highlighting conservation efforts to protect sensitive species throughout West Virginia. This series will be published in each 2025 issue of Highland Outdoors Magazine, a thoughtful grassroots magazine that distributes throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. My first piece was just published in the Spring issue that landed on shelves and in mailboxes this past week, so I thought I’d share it with all of my readers here, too!

My debut Art in the Field takes place at a remote cave in Pendleton County. I’m accompanying a team of biologists from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as they determine whether this particular cave houses a male or female Virginia big-eared bat colony. Because this bat species is federally endangered, it’s crucial to know which sites have maternity colonies so scientists can place increased protections on caves where female bats raise their young.

As we approach the cave, an icy breeze creeps out from the entrance, cooling me down after our steep hike up the mountainside. Despite my lifelong love of tiny creatures, I’ve taken a while to warm up to bats. Maybe it’s because humans seem to have an innate uneasiness around creatures that only emerge at night, or maybe it’s because they’re often depicted as dirty and creepy in movies and books. Or maybe it’s because I’m an embarrassingly jumpy person, and things that come swooping in out of nowhere give me quite the startle. I’m curious how this evening’s up-close interactions with bats—and the people who study them—will impact these feelings.

Because Virginia big-eared bats are highly sensitive to disturbance and temperature, individuals huddle together in fluffy clusters within their caves for warmth and protection during the day. But nighttime is when all the action happens. The crew gets to work setting up a harp trap, a frame with two vertical rows of thin lines and a plastic bag at the base, at the cave’s mouth. The sun slips behind the hills and we wait in silence for the bats to become active.

It doesn’t take long before I hear some soft commotion and peek into the cave to find dozens of bats zooming in circles. In one quick movement, the first bat tries to exit the cave for its evening meal, but instead gets caught between the harp trap’s strings and drops gently into the bag below. The research team takes turns carefully plucking each bat out to determine its sex. It’s a quick task, and in just a few seconds the bats are free to flutter away, calling out in their high-pitched squeaks as they disappear into the darkness to catch moths and other small insects. This is where their gigantic ears come in handy: they use them like satellite dishes to detect even the faintest movements from insects.

As I observe each bat closely, noticing their furry yellow bellies, minuscule feet, and delightfully goofy faces that sometimes transform into a smile-like expression, I feel myself becoming endeared to them. I ask one of the biologists, Liz Stout, what she likes most about working with this species. “They’re the most sensitive species to noises and disturbances to their roosting areas,” she tells me. “They’re the ultimate introverts! Which is why I think I enjoy them so much—second only to their huge ears and cute faces.”

Tonight we catch only males, letting us know that this is a paternity colony. I’m struck by how much effort goes into protecting this small critter: all the late nights driving deep into Monongahela National Forest, hauling equipment up and down steep banks, and meticulously entering the collected information into databases. Harp-trapping is just one of several strategies used in bat conservation. Scientists also use acoustic monitoring to detect bats’ echolocation signals, mist-nets to capture them for up-close examination, and radio telemetry to track their movements. Combining these techniques provides a fuller picture of this species’ habitat and behaviors, helping scientists devise conservation actions to help them thrive.

While this species is naturally immune from the threat of white-nose syndrome—a fungal disease that has decimated many bat populations in North America since 2006—the Virginia big-eared bat was listed as federally endangered in 1979 due to habitat destruction and human disturbance. But conservation efforts have already started to pay off. Over the past 50 years, the population has steadily increased thanks to initiatives like the protection of roosting caves and decreased use of toxic pesticides. Today, over half of the known population of Virginia big-eared bats are located in West Virginia. As we head back down the mountain at the end of the night, I know that this miniature mammal is in good hands, with a small but faithful team of folks who are dedicated to its survival and well-being. ∎

Special thanks to Liz Stout, Anna Reachmack, and Alexander Silvis for letting me tag along on your field work, the Creature Conserve Art-Science Scholarship for helping to sponsor my project, and Highland Outdoors for sharing this series with your readers!

Upcoming Events:

May 24, 2025, 10 am - 12 pm
Botanical Watercolor for Beginners
North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC
Join me for a relaxing introduction to botanical watercolors, from gathering inspiration and making the pencil sketch to adding realistic details to the final painting. Ages 12+, limited to 15 students. Secure your ticket here.

May 24, 2025, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains: Artist Talk, Gallery Opening & Book Signing
North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville, NC
I’m thrilled that my traveling Tiny Worlds art exhibition—featuring 40 of the original watercolor paintings from my new book—will be exhibited at the beautiful NC Arboretum from May 24 through September 7th. The opening gallery reception and kickoff artist talk will take place at 6pm on May 24th. More details here.

March Book Review:

Did you know that I run a book club? It’s called the Nature Art Book Club and I just published my sixth monthly review of a book that celebrates the natural world through art. Written and illustrated by Seattle artist Molly Hashimoto, Birds of the West is a rich source of inspiration for anyone who enjoys art and birds, no matter if you live in the American West or not. Read the full review and join our club here!