Urban Wildlife

Welfare of Bats in Urban Environments

Bats face welfare threats from roost disturbance, pesticide use, wind turbines, and persecution based on misunderstanding of their ecological roles.

Key Facts

A single little brown bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes per hour
Wind turbines kill hundreds of thousands of bats annually in the US
Pesticide use depletes insect prey causing nutritional stress in bat populations
Roost disturbance during maternity season kills young bats and disrupts colonies
Many bat species are declining dramatically due to white-nose syndrome fungal disease

Welfare Considerations

Bat welfare is affected by threats that are largely invisible to the public. Roost destruction, pesticide-induced starvation, and wind turbine collisions cause significant individual suffering. White-nose syndrome creates prolonged suffering during hibernation as bats burn their fat reserves prematurely.

What You Can Do

Install bat boxes to provide alternative roosts if existing roosts must be disturbed
Support white-nose syndrome research funding
Advocate for wind turbine curtailment during peak bat migration periods
Reduce pesticide use to support the insect prey base bats depend on