Description
What it is
This is the cap option in the Adopt-A-Bat program at Jewel Cave National Monument. The front is embroidered with three bats in flight, and the back reads “I adopted a BAT at Jewel Cave National Monument.” Each cap ships with an adoption tag noting the $35 adoption fee and where the money goes. A portion of the adoption fee goes directly to bat resource management at the monument, and the rest covers the cap and program costs.
About the adoption program
Adopt-A-Bat connects you directly to the bat colonies that hibernate inside Jewel Cave each winter. Park resource management staff run an annual mid-winter survey to track population trends and catch early signs of decline. The 2023-2024 survey counted 602 hibernating bats, up from 570 the year before; in 2018 the count topped 1,400. Your adoption helps fund that monitoring work.
About the bats at Jewel Cave
Jewel Cave supports 10 bat species. Two of them carry special federal conservation status: the Northern myotis and the Townsend’s big-eared bat. Townsend’s big-eared bats make up the largest share of the winter colony here. The cave’s historic entrance is gated and closed to visitors from October through May so the colonies are not disturbed during hibernation, and park staff enter once a year to run the count.
Who picks this up
Visitors leaving a Jewel Cave tour who want to put money toward the cave they just walked through, and gift buyers who want a souvenir with a real conservation story behind it. The embroidered back makes it clear where the wearer’s support went.
Frequently asked questions
Where does my $35 go?
A portion goes to bat resource management at Jewel Cave National Monument. The rest covers the cap, shipping materials, and program costs.
Does the cap come with anything?
Yes. Each cap includes an Adopt-A-Bat adoption tag with a space for a date and a bat name.
Can I visit the bats at Jewel Cave?
You cannot observe the hibernating colony directly, since the cave is closed to visitors from October through May to protect the bats. In summer you may spot bats near the cave entrance at dusk. Visit nps.gov/jeca for current tour schedules.
Does buying this support national parks?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
