(WLOS) — A bridge replacement project on I-40 in western North Carolina uncovered some surprising residents, sparking a unique wildlife-friendly solution.
As crews worked to replace a bridge at Exit 15 I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge, they discovered bats roosting in the old structure.
Kenny McCourt, a resident engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, said he devised a solution with the help of his daughter: a “bat wall.” This bat-friendly wall crevice was built into the retaining wall.
“It’s one of those things of being a good steward to the taxpayer dollar that we make sure we also incorporate some of the habitat for the wildlife in these areas to kind of give them an area to thrive after we’re gone,” McCourt said.
Comment with Bubbles
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Most bat species have migrated to Tennessee for the winter and will not return until spring. Before their return, the NCDOT plans to add a half-acre flower bed near the bridge, filled with native flowers that bloom at night and attract insects, providing the perfect food for bats.