Sodalis Nature Preserve to be site of night hike on Friday

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hot summer days are the perfect setting for nature programs at Sodalis Nature Preserve. A night hike at Sodalis Nature Preserve, Bats Eat Bugs, will be offered at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 26.

Sodalis Nature Preserve was acquired by the city of Hannibal almost 10 years ago to conserve the abandoned mines that serve as home for more than 200,000 endangered bats. Hannibal Parks and Recreation’s interpreter guide Gale Rublee said these bats are eating mosquitos and lots of other insects.

“Bats have unique adaptations that help them hunt and catch their prey plus they eat almost 90 percent of their body weight in insects in one night,” Rublee said in a press release. “That’s like an average teenager eating 18 pizzas.”

Rublee added that, unfortunately, the bats at the Sodalis Nature Preserve do not eat all the mosquitos so participants may still want to apply mosquito repellent on this night hike.

The full program is about two hours and covers a two-mile paved loop with a steep incline. Participants have the option to return sooner if desired.

Rublee will also offer a family program, Creek Walking, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27. Children must be accompanied by an adult and wear appropriate foot protection, no flip flops.

“One of the best summer activities in Missouri is walking in a creek. Put on your water shoes or old sneakers and join us for a walk in Bear Creek. We will walk for about an hour exploring the creek, turning over a few rocks to see what critters we might see, and looking for treasure. Maybe we’ll find one of the button shells or some animal bones,“ Rublee said.

These programs are led Rublee and members of the Mississippi Hills Master Naturalist chapter. Programs are free and open to the public. Participation is limited. Register for space at www.hannibalparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program