Artists Create Bat Murals in New Mexico

BCI supports bat mural projects

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n New Mexico, artists picked up their paints and brought their nature visions to life on a grand scale, creating murals featuring Endangered nectar-feeding bats. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, BCI supported two New Mexico mural projects depicting these incredible bats and other Endangered wildlife. BCI assisted with funding and providing images of bats and agaves for artists to reference.

Chelenzo Farms is located outside of the city of Santa Fe in the high mountain desert of Cerrillos, New Mexico. Lorenzo Dominguez and Dr. Chelsea Hollander own the regenerative farm and hacienda, and they sought support from Mexican muralist HOKZYN to create a mural depicting Mayáhuel, Aztec goddess of maguey, the Nahuatl name for the sacred agave plant, surrounded by two Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) pollinating the agave flowers. The artwork was revealed last summer at a sunset grand opening, which brought the community together to celebrate the mural and the conservation of wildlife species.

Milo looking up at a painting of a Mexican long-nosed bat flying above a field of agave

Milo, son of the farm’s owners, admires the painting of the Mexican long-nosed bat flying above a field of agave.

Photo: Chelenzo Farms

HOKZYN and Dominic working on a bat mural at night

HOKZYN and one of the farm owners’ sons, Dominic, work on the mural late at night to avoid the wind.

Photo: Chelenzo Farms

The Cerrillos and Sante Fe community gathering around the mural at Chelenzo Farms

The Cerrillos and Santa Fe community gathers to celebrate the mural reveal at Chelenzo Farms.

Photo: Chelenzo Farms

Israel Chavez led the Doña Ana Village Association’s (DAVA) work to install a mural depicting several species of bats last fall in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Las Cruces is in the potential migratory corridor of the Endangered Mexican long-nosed bat and was a key area for BCI-led citizen science environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys in the summer of 2023.

mural depicting bats, cacti, wolves, eagles, and an American and Mexican flag

community member holding a paintbrush and smiling

community members gathered around a mural to paint

community member smiling at the paint event with the mural in the background

community members smiling in front of the Las Cruces mural

A community paint event brought community members out to help complete the mural. People enjoyed discussions about public art, public transit, and pedestrian access while enjoying pan dulce and soft drinks from a local bakery.

Photos: Doña Ana Village Association and Eduardo Estrada

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