JBLM honors National Public Lands Day

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Joint Base Lewis-McChord celebrated National Public Lands Day Sept. 28 by restoring the habitat for native bats. Volunteers, professional biologists and interns from the Directorate of Public Works Fish and Wildlife internship program installed roosting boxes and removed invasive shrubs throughout the Chambers Lake wetland complex.

JBLM wildlife biologists provided education on the unique and diverse ecosystems within JBLM. The day was highly successful as 36 volunteers worked together with DPW Fish and Wildlife.

JBLM contains several rare habitats that provide critical areas for wildlife diversity. One of the unique habitats found on JBLM are kettle wetlands. Receding glaciers formed these wetlands and they provide a very distinct ecosystem necessary for certain animals.

Historic glacial outwash prairies, Garry oak woodlands, and ponderosa pine savannahs are rare in western Washington and are also found within JBLM. During the event, the team cleared approximately three acres of invasive shrubs. The newly cleared area provided space to install roosting boxes for bats and enhanced the overall habitat.

According to 2024 survey results, over 10 species of native bats find their home on JBLM, including rare little brown, Townsend’s big eared and pallid bats. During the event, the first three of eight sites for a new series of bat towers were prepared.

“These towers, once installed, will each protect up to 150 bats in the latest insulated and weather-proof box design,” said Dennis Buckingham, wildlife biologist with DPW Fish and Wildlife. “They are light-gray in color to prevent summer overheating, have insulated ‘attics’ to keep bats warmer in winter, and have a grooved simulated bark exterior to help the bats echolocate the structures. Expect to see them in the near future around Johnson Marsh, Chambers Lake and Lewis Lake.”

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteering event for public lands. Parks, conservation areas, refuges, preserves, forests, monuments, historic sites, battlefields and various other recreational areas are part of the 640 million acres of publicly owned lands.

Since 1994, this day has brought volunteers together in government-owned green spaces, or protected areas of undeveloped landscape that are part of the public domain. DPW Fish and Wildlife’s goal is not only to provide restoration and needed upkeep to the training lands but also to celebrate the connection between people and green spaces, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of these spaces for education, health benefits and recreation.

Efforts like these support JBLM’s sustainability goals for training lands. With support from DPW Fish and Wildlife, Forestry, their interns and committed volunteers, it is possible to keep these green spaces healthy and available for future missions and future generations.