From Hands to Headphones: Studying Bats in a Changing New Mexico

Did you know that New Mexico is home to one of the most diverse populations of bat species in North America? At this month's meeting, local bat biologist Milu Velardi will talk about our resident bats and our lesser-known migratory species, as well as pollinator species found in the southern part of the state. She will also discuss how scientists go about studying them both in the hand and via acoustics and the status of their populations as they face the ever-growing threat of White Nose Syndrome in our state.

Speaker Bio: Milu Velardi
Milu Velardi is a certified wildlife biologist originally from Colorado with more than three decades of experience in wildlife research, conservation, and regulatory compliance across the western United States. Milu holds an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources from West Virginia University, with research focused on bat ecology and forest dynamics. Her expertise includes research focus on bat and avian ecology, habitat selection, GIS and statistical analysis, and regulatory compliance. She currently works within LANL’s biological resources team assisting in threatened and endangered species compliance and migratory bird work. She is the chair of the New Mexico Bat Working Group and enjoys spending her time in caves and in the forest above whenever possible.