Biology Student Boosts Campus Biodiversity with New Bat and Owl Boxes at UA Little Rock

Lane Epperson, a senior biology major at UA Little Rock, has successfully completed a campus-wide sustainability project designed to support local wildlife and promote natural pest control.

With the help of a $1,700 sustainability grant from the UA Little Rock Sustainability Committee, Epperson and Dr. Ian Clifton, Epperson’s faculty advisor, installed 20 bat boxes along Coleman Creek and 10 owl boxes across the UA Little Rock campus.

“Bats and owls are a natural solution to pest control,” said Epperson, a Little Rock native who graduates this August. “Bats help control insect populations like mosquitoes, while owls help reduce rodents. This project encourages biodiversity and reduces our reliance on chemicals.”

Epperson developed the project under the guidance of Clifton, a biology professor who specializes in ecology. The initiative was inspired by Epperson’s interest in sustainability and their desire to support Arkansas wildlife in urban environments, where habitat loss has impacted native species.

“As we build more homes and remove trees, bats lose their natural roosting sites,” Clifton said. “Adding safe, artificial roosts like these boxes is one way we can support bat populations, which have been steadily declining across the country.”

Originally intended as a native plant project along Coleman Creek, Epperson shifted focus after learning how bats use the creek as a navigational tool. They worked with UA Little Rock Facilities Management employees to select optimal locations for the boxes and received logistical support during installation.

All 20 bat boxes were placed along the creek, where insect populations are high and bats are likely to roost. The 10 owl boxes, designed for screech owls, were spread across campus, including locations like the Campus Garden, to help manage rodent populations.

The project is also designed with long-term research in mind. Epperson developed protocols for monitoring the bat boxes. Biology students will be able to use the boxes to monitor bat populations for diseases and track species diversity.

“This gives us a lot of opportunities for student-led research,” Clifton said. “We can monitor bat health and activity through non-invasive methods and potentially tie that into broader conservation efforts, especially as discussions about rewilding Coleman Creek continue.”

Epperson, who was one of four recipients to receive a sustainability grant during the 2024-25 school year, said the project has been a valuable learning experience.

“It’s been more challenging than I expected, but I’m proud of what we accomplished,” Epperson said. “I hope it inspires others to pursue projects that make a difference for our environment.”

Although they won’t be on campus in the fall, Epperson is glad to know the work will continue.

“I’ll be there in spirit,” Epperson said. “I’d love to see this project grow and become a foundation for even more research and conservation work at UA Little Rock.”

People who are interested in building their own bat boxes can visit this article from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.