Urban bats face welfare challenges from roost disturbance, building exclusions, and light pollution while also providing valuable ecosystem services to city environments.
Bats excluded from buildings during maternity season may leave flightless pups unable to escape, causing mortality from starvation and dehydration. Renovations during June-August pup-rearing season are particularly damaging. Light pollution that affects bat foraging patterns can reduce foraging efficiency and dietary quality for urban bats. Urban cats that prey on low-flying foraging bats represent a significant welfare impact - cat predation is a documented source of bat mortality in urban environments. Providing alternative roost structures before excluding bats from buildings prevents pup mortality and maintains colony welfare through the transition.