To the bat program!

The nickname “Rats of the Sky” officially may be reserved for pigeons, but bats are dubbed with the same insulting moniker time and time again. In truth, bats are related more closely to humans than they are to rodents. Don’t believe me? Just ask Dharma Webber of the California Native Bat Conservancy. This Friday, Webber will lead the Wings of the Night program, which aims to educate the general population about bats. Guests will enjoy an engaging slideshow and have the chance to get up-close with some live bats. The program will last from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $5. I’m sorry to report that the program will not be held in a bat cave, but at the Placer Nature Center, located at 3700 Christian Valley Road in Auburn. Now, people, hurry up and call (530) 878-6053 to make your reservations.