LAMONT, Fla. (WCTV) - Every month, WCTV heads to the Jefferson County non-profit and puts a spotlight on a different species at the wildlife conservation.

Founder and director of the North Florida Wildlife Center, Ryan Reines, introduced us to the new bat colony.

“Bats are the only flying mammals that have ever existed,” Reines said. “These guys are much larger than any of our native bats with a nearly 3-foot wingspan.”

The NFWC recently received a colony of nearly 30 bats from the Jacksonville Zoo and the center is excited to allow visitors to start learning about the threatened species.

“Straw-colored fruit bats are threatened in the wild and many of our native bats here in Florida are threatened or endangered as well,” Reines said.

While bats are nocturnal animals, fruit bats do tend to be a little more active during the day, according to Reines.

The North Florida Wildlife Center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., located at 1386 Cook Road Lamont, Florida 32336.

To find out more information about the North Florida Wildlife Center, click here.

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