|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT NOVA |
| |
Leslie Sturges, Director Bat World
NOVA
Educator, Park Naturalist, Zookeeper and Instructor |
| |
 Leslie has been rehabilitating
bats since 2001, when she attended Bat Boot Camp at Bat World
Sanctuary. The following year, she became director of Bat World
NOVA. In 2004, she became Operations Manager of Bat World
Regional Centers and was subsequently elected to the Bat World
Board of Directors.
Leslie’s
previous animal experience as a lifelong reptile keeper and
breeder and zookeeper in Smithsonian’s National Zoological
Park’s Department of Invertebrates gives her a firm grounding in
captive animal management. As her interest shifted to
insectivorous bats and their natural history, she has been
studying the ecology of urban bats. In 2004 she attended BCI’s
Bat Conservation and Management Workshop. In addition, she is a
member of the Wildlife Rescue League, the Animal Behavioral
Management Alliance the AZA Bat TAG, and the Wildlife Society. |
| |
|
As an educator for the past
decade, Leslie presents natural history programs as part of her
‘regular’ job and as a bat ecologist and rehabilitator. She has
taught continuing education courses for local rehabilitators for
the past three years and has appeared on local news, community
cable, and on public radio to promote bats and bat conservation.
She has worked in partnership with the Fairfax County Park
Authority to establish a bat festival in local parks—a program
which may expand to three venues in 2005! She also is an invited
presenter with the Girl Scout Council of the National Capital
Region and numerous schools and libraries. Since their
inception, her Bat World programs have reached over 5,000
people. |
| |
|
 Leslie's
husband, engineer extraordinaire Rich Sturges, is responsible
for designing, building, and modifying bat housing. He is also
in charge of audio-visual equipment procurement and upkeep, and
frequently can be found working a table at festivals or events.
Volunteer and world traveler Sue
Frey found us through the Wildlife Rescue League. Sue is a
permitted wildlife caretaker and watches the bats when we are
away and assists with orphan feeding. We keep her very busy
during orphan season! |
| |
If you are interested in
volunteering with Bat World NOVA please contact us. |
|
|
|
