Bats are keystone species providing essential ecosystem services but face multiple serious threats. Their nocturnal, colonial nature creates specific welfare challenges in both wild and captive settings.
Bat welfare is a conservation and welfare priority because their colonial nature means disease and habitat threats affect massive numbers simultaneously. White-nose syndrome illustrates how a single pathogen can devastate populations of millions in a few years. Wind turbine mortality represents a policy conflict between renewable energy goals and wildlife welfare that requires site selection and deterrent technology solutions. Bats in rehabilitation require specialized expertise that is relatively rare among wildlife rehabilitators.