Event dates and details may change. Be sure to check the SPIU! Facebook page prior to proceeding to an event.
Location: Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Difficulty Level: 1-2
Join SPIU! Sunday, May 22nd at 6:30pm for a family friendly, easy-pickin’s cleanup and sunset bat viewing at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, with special appearance and bat talk by Corky Quirk of NorCal Bats! Any donations to NorCal Bats will help support the rescue of sick, injured or orphaned bats, and SPIU will have a Bat Tip Jar at the event.
We’ll pick up trash along the causeway and levee before gathering RIGHT underneath one of the best spots to see a quarter of a million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats emerge for their nightly meal!
At 8pm Corky will chat about the bats and answer questions, and will have some ambassador bats for folks to see up close. Sunset is 8:17 that evening, around the time the bats will emerge!
BYOB&G (bags/buckets & gloves/grabbers)! SPIU will have bags and some extra supplies as well.
This is a level 1-2 cleanup with mostly freeway trash and some uneven surfaces if you decide to leave the level path and clean on the levee. Please take precaution as you pick up in these areas, snakes and insects preside here.
Arrangements have been made with proper authorities to have our pile(s) picked up, and volunteers will sign waivers.
To find it, put Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in your GPS. Park up on the levee and road leading up to the entrance sign, but be advised not to park over the levee down in the wildlife area — they close and lock the gate at sunset and you could be locked in.
After some trash pickin’ you can gather where the bats come out and marvel at their numbers and echolocation activity — and the bat guano! It does have an “aroma” and it’s rare but some folks do have an allergic respiratory reaction! Just a head’s up about that. You can view the bats without having to be directly underneath the causeway, and therefore away from the guano.
All volunteer activities are performed at your own risk and safety is always FIRST
WHAT TO EXPECT
Participation in any of these events is at your own risk. If you participate in any group events promoted by Sacramento Picks It Up!, you agree to hold harmless any organizer, person, and/or organization involved.
SAFETY FIRST! We always recommend good quality gloves and use of a trash picker, plus sturdy shoes. Terrain may be uneven, wet or muddy. Long-sleeves and long pants are advised. If you are on Facebook, you can also check out the GUIDES tab for various helpful tips on gear, safety protocols and 311 requests etc.
Events hosted by Sacramento Picks It Up! have a Difficulty Level assigned to them so you can choose the type of event that is best for your physical abilities and interest level. Difficulty levels are Level 1 (easy, flat terrain); Level 2 (mostly easy terrain); Level 3 (moderate terrain, “off-road” natural areas, some heavy items); Level 4 (difficult terrain, heavy items); Level 5 (very difficult terrain, mostly heavy items).
All events are BYOB (buckets) & G (gloves and grabbers)! Please also bring your own water and snacks. Most event hosts have extra supplies to loan out if anyone needs anything. Prior to participating in any event, we encourage you to stretch, hydrate and make sure you are properly fueled.
… and thank you for volunteering to clean up our city and its waterways.
If you know of others who would like to be put on this email list or have any questions, please shoot us an email at sacramentopicksitup@gmail.com