Baturday News is a weekly blog written by Rachael, a high school student, bat advocate, and Save Lucy volunteer. Rachael’s interest in bats was sparked by the big brown bats that used the outside of her former home for a winter roost. She now enjoys watching the bats fly over her home on summer evenings. Rachael has been writing the Baturday News for over three years.

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a good week. I have been sick! Just in case you guys are curious, pneumonia stinks! I would not recommend it. In fact, if there is a way you can avoid it, I would highly recommend that you do so. I am happy to say that the antibiotics are working and I am starting to feel a little better now.

It has been another difficult week for Puerto Rico and Mexico. Puerto Rico was hit by Hurricane Maria. Power is out to the entire island, only about a fourth of the people have water, and a dam is in "imminent danger of failing." While Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands were dealing with the hurricane, Mexico was hit with another major earthquake. Hundreds of people were killed.  My thoughts are with the people of Puerto Rico and Mexico.

With all the bad news, I thought everyone could use some good batty news. I have some great news for the Indiana bats living in Illinois. An old silica mine that was owned by the mining company Unimin has been given to the Organization for Bat Conservation. More than 45,000 endangered Indiana bats now have a nice comfy home.

Apparently, bat populations living in silica mines haven't been affected by White Nose Syndrome as much as bats living in other caves. So, the Executive Director of the Organization for Bat Conservation, Rob Mies, says that this mine could be a "potential safe haven for" the bats that use the mine.

If you would like to read more, you can find the article here.