Often misunderstood yet essential to their ecosystems, bats are among the most elusive creatures on Earth. Southern California is home to an impressive variety—11 of the 25 bat species found in the state have been detected in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area alone. Why are bats so important? And what secrets are still waiting to be uncovered about these mysterious night fliers? We’re thrilled to welcome UCLA postdoctoral researcher Dr.Joseph Curti, who will guide us through an engaging presentation on bat biology and behavior. Afterward, we’ll head out on a short evening hike, using acoustic monitoring devices to discover which bats are active at the reserve. Additionally, we’ll screen the short film BatBoy, written and directed by UCLA alumnus Aaron Lemle. The story follows Andre (Domonique Brown), a young man on the autism spectrum with a deep fascination for the bats living in a nearby highway underpass in East LA. When the bats suddenly disappear, he teams up with a skeptical UCLA biologist (Khandi Alexander) to solve the mystery. Dr. Curti, who served as the film’s Scientific Advisor, will share behind-the-scenes insights about his work on the project.

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