Wildlife

Bat Conservation and Welfare

Bats face threats from habitat loss, wind turbines, white-nose syndrome, and human persecution based on fear and misunderstanding.

Key Facts

Bats provide pest control services worth billions of dollars annually
White-nose syndrome has killed over 90% of some North American bat species
Wind turbines kill an estimated 2 million bats per year in the US
A single little brown bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes per hour

Welfare Considerations

Bats occupy a peculiar position in human culture — misunderstood, feared, and often exterminated. Yet their ecological services are immense. White-nose syndrome represents one of the most devastating wildlife diseases in history. Wind turbine mortality is an emerging welfare and conservation concern requiring turbine design and operational solutions.

What You Can Do

Install bat boxes to provide roosting habitat
Advocate for bat-friendly wind turbine practices (curtailment at low wind speeds)
Never disturb bat roosts — they are protected in most jurisdictions
Support white-nose syndrome research and decontamination programs