Scouts from Troop 79 in Edmond helped Emerson Wyrick with his Eagle Project, which was planning and installing three rocket-style bat boxes at Lake Arcadia. The boxes have been placed in ideal locations on the south side of the lake, near the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife's Arcadia Conservation Education Area. Each approximately 2 ½ ft high box is at the top of 16 ft tall pole, with some distance away from trees, which often harbor predators of bats.
The box at the posted coordinates is northeast of the Education Center. Follow the main road east from the intersection, past the entrance to the Education Center, and you will see a trail and pavilion on the left. Take that trail north, following the wildlife and foliage information signs. The tall, yellow rocket-shaped box will be on your left. If you continue a short distance ahead, you will see another Eagle Project on your right, for Barred Owls.
A second bat box was located just inside the entrance drive to the Education Dept. on the left, near the tree line. I was not able to spot the third box, despite taking another trail thru the area.
The following is from the Wildlife Dept. news release about the bat boxes:
Recently, a group of Scouts (including male and female youths) gathered to plan, build, and install three rocket-style bat boxes at ODWC’s Arcadia Conservation Education Area. The boxes will offer Oklahoma’s only flying mammals a place to roost.
Scout Emerson Wyrick, 16, from Troop 79 in Edmond led the project, which was his capstone for earning the Eagle Scout rank within Scouts BSA.
To advance in rank, Scouts are required to complete conservation and community service projects, and to demonstrate ability to lead adults and youths alike in a service project that gives back to the community.
Wyrick wanted his project to be conservation-related, so he asked Scoutmaster Darrin Hill, a producer for the Wildlife Department’s “Outdoor Oklahoma” TV show, to serve as his project adviser.
Wildlife Biologists Mark Howery and Melynda Hickman advised Wyrick and recommended bat boxes be installed at the Arcadia location. They offered Wyrick some ideas and information where to get the bat box plans.
Hill said projects such as this help instill in youths the habit of helping others and improving the environment.
“My favorite thing to see was the Scouts working together to upright and install the bat boxes. They had guy lines and plenty of communication as they lifted the poles to be placed in their resting places. It reminded me of … the famous picture of the U.S. Marines installing the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
“Conservation and Scouting go hand in hand and historically have benefited from each other. And both movements are as diverse as ever and continue to move forward while learning from the past.”
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Here is an excellent article, by the same organization, explaining considerations for placing bat boxes (in threes, min. 15 ft high).
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