Wild Bat Conservation and Welfare

Bats are vital ecosystem service providers facing severe conservation threats including White-Nose Syndrome, habitat loss, and wind turbine mortality.

Key Facts

There are over 1,400 bat species globally — they represent approximately 20% of all mammal species
White-Nose Syndrome caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans has killed over 6 million bats in North America
Bats provide enormous ecological services including insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal
Wind turbines kill an estimated 600,000 to 900,000 bats annually in the United States alone
Many bat populations are in severe decline due to roost loss, pesticide reduction in insect prey, and climate change

Welfare Considerations

White-Nose Syndrome causes bats to rouse repeatedly from hibernation, burning critical fat reserves and dying of starvation and dehydration. The disease can wipe out entire hibernating colonies. Beyond WNS, habitat fragmentation means bats must travel further to find food, increasing energetic stress. Protecting bat roosts and foraging habitats is essential for population-level welfare.

What You Can Do

Install bat boxes in your garden to provide additional summer roosting opportunities
Reduce pesticide use to support the insect prey that bats depend on
Support organisations researching White-Nose Syndrome treatments including probiotic interventions
Advocate for wind turbine curtailment protocols during high-risk bat activity periods