Meet the Bat Lady

We get to know Orange County bat biologist Stephanie Remington and one of her favorite animals, bats.

PHOTO by RALPH PALUMBO

tephanie Remington is often amazed at all the interesting job titles she comes across at social events. Though she turns modest when it comes to her own, she admits she’s usually the first bat biologist most non-scientists have met.

For the last 13 years she’s learned more about bats than most people know about themselves. If someone has a question about the little critters in the Orange County area, Remington – a.k.a. “the bat lady” – is the person to call.

“I know that a lot of people have me in their Rolodex under ‘b’,” says 45-year-old Remington.

You’d think with a title like bat biologist (officially termed chiropterologist), Remington would have been driven by a passion for either science or bats from at least birth. But neither was the case. She pretty much ignored science all through school and actually began college as a music major. She has always loved animals, however.

Still, why spend more than a decade studying an animal that’s often viewed with fear and disgust by society at large?

“Because they sounded neat,” says the long-time Orange County resident. “Ecologically they were so important to the area; I picked them for that reason.”

In graduate school she was studying the effects of habitat fragmentation (the isolation of a

Bat Walks San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine: May 16, May 22, June 5 (adults only), June 20, Aug. 7, Aug. 22, Aug. 28 (adults only), 7-8:45 p.m. $12 for adults, $6 for children (ages 7–12). Must be prepaid, no walk-ins. Call (949) 261-7963 for reservations. The Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy in San Juan Capistrano: June 28 (7:15-9:15 p.m.), July 12 (7:15-9:15 p.m.), Aug. 23 (6:45-8:45 p.m.). $10-$15 per person. Suitable for children ages 8 and up. Call (949) 489-9778 for reservations.

natural habitat by an outside force like urbanization) and wanted to focus on animals important to the local ecology. Bats came to mind.

These days her job typically involves fieldwork studying of bats for public and private organizations; excluding or attracting bats for property owners; and public education.

Educating the public is particularly important to Remington because of the negative view of bats. She does slideshow presentations and bat walks (where she leads groups on a search for bats in the wild) for groups like the Sea & Sage Audubon Society. (Local bat walks led by Remington begin this month.)

“People who are afraid will often feel brave when attacking an animal, even if that animal is actually helpless,” she says. “There have been attacks on mothers and babies.”

Remington is a fascinating blend of hardcore scientist and free spirit. When she’s talking bats, she’ll shoot out terms like roosts, torpor and echolocation without a pause. But she likes to balance her life with a range of interests, including yoga.

“There are lots of things that are not explainable by science that interest me,” she says. “Einstein had this saying. You can live your life two different ways: One as if nothing is a miracle and the other as if everything is.”

Bat Facts • Bats are mammals; most of them are nocturnal. The oldest known wild bat documented through studies was over 40 years old. • Many bats go into torpor, or hibernation. But the frequency and length of time the torpor lasts depends on the species and ambient conditions. • You are much more likely to be killed by a dog than by a rabid bat. Bat rabies account for about one human death per year in the United States. WEB-EXCLUSIVE BAT FACTS AND BAT-SPOTTING TIPS...

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