Bats are the only flying mammals and face severe persecution, white-nose syndrome, and wind turbine mortality despite their ecological importance.
White-nose syndrome causes bats to wake repeatedly during hibernation, depleting fat reserves and leading to starvation and death. The fungal disease spreads rapidly through cave systems. Wind turbine mortality from barotrauma (internal hemorrhage from pressure changes) kills bats without physical contact. Persecution and habitat destruction compound these threats.