Urban bats roosting in buildings create conflicts with homeowners that frequently result in illegal exclusion causing welfare harm and colony collapse.
Urban bat roost welfare is primarily a conflict management challenge where ignorance and fear cause welfare harm that better information would prevent. Homeowners discovering bats rarely know about legal protections or the welfare consequences of sealing roosts during maternity season. Pups sealed inside die from starvation or heat while attempting to escape. Adult females returning to sealed roosts abandon the attempt and the pups they carried. Legal, wildlife-informed exclusion performed in the right season with alternative roost provision available prevents this welfare harm entirely.