Bat Appreciation Day to Be Held at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine on September 20th

Press Releases 09/18/2025 Bat Appreciation Day to Be Held at Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine on September 20th Celebrate History and Bats at a Fun-filled Event for All Ages (HARTFORD) - Join the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife Division and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) State Historic Preservation Office for a celebration of bat conservation at the Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event helps raise awareness about the story of one of Connecticut's most intriguing historical sites and its importance to the conservation of endangered species. Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine is our nation's oldest state prison. It was also the first operating copper mine in the North American colonies. Today, it is not just an amazing cultural resource - its underground tunnels are the winter home of several state endangered bat species. The bats of Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine are considered "cave bats" because they spend the winter underground. Cave bats are affected by the disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). In the 19 years since its initial detection in New York, WNS has killed millions of bats throughout the Northeast. The disease has spread to at least 40 states and nine Canadian provinces and is suspected to be present in an additional five U.S. states and one Canadian province. To raise awareness of the plight of bats and their importance to our ecosystem and our economy, the DEEP Wildlife Division and DECD State Historic Preservation Office have joined forces to host the ninth annual Bat Appreciation Day. The day will feature bat activities for the whole family and include exhibits, bat story time, historical tales, the unique opportunity to sneak a peek at the "bat cave," bat crafts for kids, a free entry for a chance to win a fun door prize, and more. "Many of Connecticut's bat populations have declined by more than 90% in the past two decades due to the impact of white-nose syndrome," said Katie Dykes, DEEP Commissioner. "This annual event allows us to celebrate the conservation partnership between DEEP and DECD in protecting both these valuable species and the historically significant habitat they rely on, and to share the results of this important effort with the public." "We are excited to be partnering with DEEP," said Morgan Bengel, site manager of Old New-Gate. "Bat Appreciation Day is a great opportunity to showcase our facility and connect people with the cultural and natural history here." "This is a great chance to learn the remarkable history of Old New-Gate Prison and view it through the lens of the state-endangered bats that depend on it as their winter home," said Jenny Dickson, DEEP Wildlife Division Director. "Little brown, tri-colored, and northern long-eared bats have used this site to hibernate during the winter months. DECD and DEEP work closely together to protect this unique site, and we look forward to telling its history, the story of the bats, and the importance of both for conservation efforts in the future." For more information on Bat Appreciation Day. Learn more about bats across Connecticut, visit the DEEP website. Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine is our nation's oldest state prison and also the first operating copper mine in the North American colonies. Today, it is not just an amazing cultural resource - its underground tunnels are the winter home of the big brown bat, as well as several state endangered bat species. Photo credit: Paul Benjunas/CT DEEP Wildlife Division. Twitter: @CTDEEPNews Facebook: DEEP on Facebook Contact DEEP Communications [email protected] 860-424-3110 Twitter Facebook Email Print