Description
Please join us for the 6th Annual Tennessee Bat Working Group Bat Blitz on September 21-23, 2026, on the Cumberland Plateau! Home base will be East Fork Stables (East Fork Stables | The Ride of a Lifetime) in Jamestown, Tennessee, nestled between Big South Fork River and Recreation Area, Scott State Forest, and the Obed Wild and Scenic River National Park.
Payment is $15 and registration is capped to the first 50 people. Once 50 people register, the link will say “This form is no longer accepting responses.” If payment is not received in a timely manner, we’ll give your spot to folks on the waiting list. Please provide the email address of the person registering to participate so they will receive further information.
We will be conducting two nights of mist net surveys for bats in an effort to assess local bat populations. Surveys start ~2 hours before sunset and end ~5 hours after sunset. We survey in areas with big rocks, creeks, mosquitoes, and snakes so prepare accordingly. For legal purposes we will sign everyone up as official TWRA volunteers and sign waivers. You must have a rabies vaccination or titer check within the last 2 years to handle bats. Allowing volunteers to handle bats will also be at the discretion of the federally permitted Team Leader. Rabies vaccination is not required to help in other ways (carry and set up equipment, write on the datasheets, etc.)
Link to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_-OmHR9k-F7WuQZUyEhUtwXeqCVGDJt5w2PRHc93-vSYVuA/viewform?usp=header
Food: Dinner will be provided on the Monday and Tuesday before netting and simple sandwich fixins will be provided each day so you can have snack in the field. We are currently planning on a Shrimp Boil one day and Walkin’ Tacos (taco bar) the other day. We will attempt to accommodate all food allergies but cannot guarantee that it will be possible.
Camping/Group Meeting Space: We have Loop B reserved in East Fork Stables Campground. Many sites are shaded and half have electricity to accommodate campervans or pull-behind campers. Loop B has a pavilion with electricity that we will use as our group meeting space. Porta-potties will be available at Loop B and there is a bathhouse (with hot water), washer and dryer at the next loop over. There will some refrigerator and freezer space available at the pavilion.
Please note there is no indoor space for us to gather at the campground. May the weather be in our favor.
Alternative Lodging: Not up for camping? East Fork Stables as 6 small cabins for rental. In addition, The Jordan Motel The Jordan Motel – We are located in Jamestown, Tennessee is just down the road and has a good number of rooms that bat biologists have used in the past.
See you there!
