GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Spooky season has arrived, and with that, the fall weather. What better activity to kick off the festive season than heading to a unique conservancy dedicated to bats? 

Bats are nothing out of the ordinary for husband and wife duo Brian and Tracy Pope, who have dedicated their lives to them. Their Lubee Bat Conservancy is a wildlife research unit that houses a variety of different fruit bats. 

“We have specialized microphones here and equipment that we place around the state, and it's pretty neat because we record their echolocation calls, download it into a computer and then decipher their calls," Brian Pope said. 

The bat specialists first met while working at an animal-care program at Disney World and now have now run the facility for the past 13 years. 

“We celebrate bats and are welcoming everybody back," Tracy Pope said. 

The conservancy will host its annual Bat Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Oct. 23. Learn more about the event or buy tickets on the conservancy’s website.

The conservancy is a global leader in fruit bat care and research, and the Popes currently care for more than 200 different bats. They research and also work closely with the public to provide education and insight into the good fruit bats do for the planet. 

It’s an around-the-clock job that keeps the Popes busy.

“This is Pitch,” Brian said, showing off a Malaysian flying bat. “He's the largest flying bat in the world."

The Popes are passionate about the work they do and the bat lives they touch. 

"I didn't give much thought to bats before I started working with them, but now I think they're one of the most interesting creatures," Tracy said. 

Lubee Bat Conservancy is open all year, but call ahead to schedule a tour.