In this bonus, Halloween and Bat Week episode, we talk with Dr. Kristen Lear, a bat conservation scientist, National Geographic Explorer, and If/Then® Ambassador whose lifelong passion for misunderstood creatures turned into a career protecting bat populations around the world.

Kristen shares how a childhood Girl Scout project building bat houses led her to a career at Bat Conservation International (BCI), where she now directs the Agave Restoration Initiative—a binational program supporting endangered nectar-feeding bats and the ecosystems (and tequila plants!) they rely on.

With contagious enthusiasm, Kristen explains how she uses infrared cameras, environmental DNA (eDNA), and community partnerships to track and protect migratory bats across Mexico and the U.S. Southwest. The conversation covers everything from bat “supermoms” and nocturnal fieldwork to tequila, rabies myths, and why bats are vital pollinators and pest controllers.

They also discuss Girl Scouts as a gateway to STEM, Bat Week (the annual celebration leading up to Halloween), and Kristen’s mission to make the world a friendlier place for these essential — and often misunderstood — creatures.

💡 Topics We Cover

• How Kristen’s childhood love of “underdog animals” led to a career in bat conservation
• Her early Girl Scout project building bat houses and creating a “Go Batty!” patch
• What bat scientists actually do in the field — from mist nets to infrared tech
• Using eDNA (environmental DNA) to track migrating bats through agave plants and hummingbird feeders
• The relationship between bats, agave, and the tequila industry
• Debunking myths about bats and rabies
• How to humanely remove a bat from your house
• What it’s like to work nights studying nocturnal animals
• Girl Scouts, mentorship, and how Kristen’s mom inspired her confidence
• Kristen’s work as an If/Then Ambassador and National Geographic Explorer
• Why Bat Week matters — and how you can get involved

🌎 Resources & Links

• Bat Conservation International: www.batcon.org
  
  
• Bat Week: www.batweek.org
  
  
• If/Then® Initiative: www.ifthen.org
  
  
• Follow Dr. Kristen Lear: LinkedIn – Kristen Lear
  
  

🧠 Key Takeaways

• You can make a career out of your childhood passion — even bats!
• Conservation is as much about people and partnerships as it is about science.
• Technology like infrared imaging and DNA sampling are transforming wildlife research.
• Myths about bats are being replaced with understanding — thanks to scientists like Kristen.
• Supporting pollinators helps protect ecosystems and local economies.

Music by Kay Paulus 

Follow Kay on Instagram @kaypaulus8

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