Utah’s night life is great for many reasons. But some of the most exciting sights happen away from bustling city venues, on natural landscapes alive with nocturnal wildlife.

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists want to give you an up-close look at some of the state’s most peculiar night-time fauna: bats. The DWR is hosting a Bat Night event near the La Sal Mountains south of Moab on the evening of August 16.

The biologists will catch bats using a fine mesh net suspended above a pond. As the bats leave their daytime caves and crevices in search of bugs to eat, some will get caught in the net. Biologists will identify the bats, measure them and release them unharmed. During the process, you’ll be able to see, learn about and photograph the bats before they’re released.

“This is an opportunity to see a fascinating, rarely noticed member of Utah’s wildlife community in the beauty of the La Sal Mountains,” says Morgan Jacobsen, the DWR’s conservation outreach manager in southeastern Utah. “As the evening draws on, we’ll likely catch bats of a variety of sizes and species.”

The event will begin at 8 p.m. and will last until midnight or later. Due to limited parking, public participation is limited to the first 15 people who register. Details on where to meet will be provided upon registration. To register or for more information, visit https://goo.gl/YNY8f7.