Music of the Night: Hagerman’s Bat Monitoring Program Wins National Award
Exciting news for wildlife lovers and Lake Texoma locals! The Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge have won the 2025 O’Brien Prize from the National Wildlife Refuge Association for their cutting-edge citizen science bat monitoring project, Music of the Night. The award includes a $6,000 grant to support this initiative.
What’s the project about?
The program trains community volunteers to use high-tech acoustic detectors to monitor bat activity across Hagerman NWR’s diverse habitats. These devices help identify local species—like the northern long-eared bat and the tricolored bat, which face serious threats from habitat loss and white-nose syndrome.
“They’re stepping in to support critical refuge science, building deeper community ties, and using innovation to protect some of our most misunderstood and ecologically important species,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President & CEO of NWRA.
Why it matters
Bats play a vital role in ecosystems—controlling insects, pollinating plants, and helping maintain biodiversity. This program not only contributes valuable data for conservation decisions but also engages the public in hands-on science. The Friends group plans to share findings through presentations and youth education, making wildlife science accessible and exciting for all ages.
About Hagerman NWR
Located on the Big Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge offers over 11,000 acres of birding, hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Established in 1946, it’s the largest natural area in North Texas freely open to the public. Its volunteer-run Friends group hosts nature events, school field trips, seminars, and tram tours that connect people to the natural world.
Visit the refuge at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX
Learn more about the O’Brien Prize and past winners: refugeassociation.org/obrien