Threats to Bats: Conservation Challenges and Solutions

Bats face a convergence of human-driven threats that are reducing populations across every continent where they occur. The primary threats are habitat loss and degradation, white-nose syndrome, mortality at wind energy facilities, climate change, direct killing and hunting, and disturbance of roosts. These threats are compounded by a fundamental knowledge gap: compared to other mammals and birds, significantly less is known about the population status of most bat species, which makes prioritizing and planning conservation actions challenging [3]. Over a third of bat species assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are considered threatened or data deficient, and well over half of all assessed species have unknown or decreasing population trends. That equals 988 species, or 80% of bats assessed by IUCN, needing conservation or research attention [3]. This article reviews the major threats, examines the evidence for each, and provides actionable conservation steps for individuals, researchers, and land managers.

At a Glance: Primary Threats and Conservation Responses

The Scope of Bat Diversity and Conservation Need

Bats are an ecologically and taxonomically diverse group accounting for roughly a fifth of mammalian diversity worldwide [3]. They occupy nearly every terrestrial habitat except extreme polar regions, and their ecological roles include insect suppression, pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling through guano deposition. The socioeconomic benefits associated with bats are substantial, with documented contributions to human welfare across health, material and immaterial assets, security, and social or cultural or spiritual relations [6]. A survey of 235 papers from different countries found that bats are fundamentally important to human welfare, with benefits more prevalent in Asia and Africa, and that bats are most commonly utilized for material and immaterial benefits such as food and income, followed by their use in addressing health challenges [6].

The scale of conservation need is substantial. Delivering conservation to bat species will require sustained efforts to assess population status and trends and to address data deficiencies [3]. Successful bat conservation must integrate research and conservation to identify stressors and their solutions and to test the efficacy of actions to stabilize or increase populations [3]. Global and regional networks that connect researchers, conservation practitioners, and local stakeholders to share knowledge, build capacity, and prioritize and coordinate research and conservation efforts are vital to ensuring sustainable bat populations worldwide [3].

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

Habitat loss is the most pervasive threat to bat populations globally. Bats require three types of habitat resources: foraging areas, roosting sites, and commuting corridors that connect them. The conversion of natural habitats to agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure removes or degrades all three.

Forest-Dependent Species Are Most Vulnerable

Research in peninsular Malaysia examined the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on insectivorous bats within a hydroelectric reservoir landscape [14]. Using passive acoustic monitoring across 26 islands and two mainland continuous forest sites, researchers identified 16 bat sonotypes, including 10 forest foragers, three edge foragers, and three open-space foragers [14]. Sonotype richness increased towards denser forest structures, while species composition varied across the gradient of forest area. Forest foragers were positively affected by vegetation density and negatively affected by distance to the closest neighboring forest patch, whereas edge foragers increased in smaller islands [14]. The study concluded that ensuring habitat quality within insular forest remnants, in addition to their functional connectivity, maximizes bat diversity, including the persistence of forest foraging species [14].

Similar patterns emerge from agricultural landscapes. Research in macadamia orchards in South Africa compared bat communities in a nature reserve, orchards with adjacent natural habitat patches, and orchards without such patches [15]. Species richness varied significantly between the nature reserve and the orchards, but did not differ between orchards with and without neighboring natural habitat. Narrow space foraging bats, which depend on dense vegetation, occurred more frequently in the nature reserve than in the orchards, and were largely excluded from simplified agricultural landscapes, particularly where natural edge habitats were missing [15]. The conversion of natural habitat in favor of monocultures, especially when remnant natural patches at orchard boundaries are removed, has widespread detrimental effects on bat diversity and reduces biological pest suppression by bats [15].

Urbanization and Artificial Light

Localized threat assessments reveal the specific landscape features that reduce bat diversity. A study in San Diego County, California, which contains 22 of the 41 bat species that occur in the United States, found that urbanization, the presence of artificial lights, and areas sampled on unconserved land were all significantly associated with decreases in species richness [7]. The study calculated species scores incorporating richness and conservation status, and threat scores including landscape level threats, to prioritize areas with the most management need [7]. This approach demonstrates that concentrated conservation efforts at small spatial scales can be critical in a rapidly changing world where species conservation needs vary by local habitat [7].

Habitat Loss and Ecological Generalization

Habitat degradation tends to favor generalist species over specialists. Research on reef fishes, while not directly about bats, illustrates a pattern that applies broadly to ecological communities: human activities are altering community structure, often favoring generalists over specialists [16]. For bats, this means that habitat loss may not simply reduce species richness but may shift community composition toward adaptable generalist species while specialist species decline or disappear locally. The loss of specialists at local scales is a consistent consequence of habitat degradation under intensifying anthropogenic pressures [16].

Habitat Loss Effects on Bat-Fruit Networks

Habitat loss also disrupts mutualistic interactions. Research on the effects of habitat loss on bat-fruit networks examines how fragmentation alters the interactions between fruit-eating bats and the plants they disperse [17]. When habitat loss reduces bat populations or changes their foraging behavior, the seed dispersal services they provide are diminished, which can have cascading effects on forest regeneration and plant community composition [17].

Wildfire and Habitat Loss

Severe wildfire represents an acute form of habitat loss. A model-based rapid assessment of the loss of potential bat habitat following a severe wildfire provides a framework for quantifying habitat loss after disturbance events [18]. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of wildfires in many regions, understanding how fire affects bat habitat is increasingly important for conservation planning.

White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that has devastated North American bat populations since its emergence. The fungus grows on the skin of hibernating bats, causing them to wake frequently during hibernation, depleting fat reserves, and leading to death.

The Pathogen and Its Effects

The fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes white-nose syndrome in North American bats [11]. The disease has devastated bat populations over the last two decades [11]. Research on the bat skin microbiome has identified bacteria with bioactivity against the fungus, suggesting that microbiome constituents can serve as a primary defense against vertebrate pathogens [11]. A study isolating bacteria from the fur and skin of 314 bats across 12 species in Arizona and New Mexico before the arrival of white-nose syndrome identified 61 bat-associated bacteria with activity against the fungus [11]. Ecoregion and bat species were determinant variables associated with fungal inhibition, meaning that the protective microbiome varies by location and species [11].

Environmental Conditions and Recovery

The environmental conditions under which bats hibernate strongly influence disease outcomes. Research combining two decades of population, disease, and environmental data with a common garden experiment found that initial declines were greater and faster in warmer sites, but these populations recovered more quickly and hosts developed higher resistance than populations from colder sites that were buffered from initial impacts [12]. Warm sites served as hotspots of host adaptation where selective pressures were stronger because thermal conditions approached optimal growth for the pathogen, which eventually favored the development of high pathogen resistance [12]. Populations in colder sites experienced weaker selective pressure and thus remain more susceptible, although bats from larger colonies were more likely to survive, suggesting that adaptive traits exist in these populations but at much lower frequency [12]. These findings show that the environmental conditions that initially buffer populations from collapse can simultaneously constrain their evolutionary response to emerging threats [12].

Decontamination and Management

Conservation interventions for subterranean-roosting bats have been evaluated through meta-analysis of 345 papers recommending a total of 910 conservation interventions [5]. Decontamination was assessed in two studies and positively affected bat populations, particularly in studies focused on reducing fungal spores associated with white-nose syndrome in North America [5]. Gating of roost entrances was applied to preserve bat populations in 21 studies, but its effectiveness was unclear [5]. Habitat restoration and disturbance reduction positively affected bat populations and bat behavior, respectively, in four or fewer studies [5]. Monitoring of bat populations as an effective conservation strategy was unclear and infrequently tested [5].

Guano as a Monitoring Tool

Bat guano offers a non-invasive window into bat health and disease status. Research on guano from little brown bat maternity colonies sampled monthly across the summer season at fresh deposition and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks following deposition found that Pseudogymnoascus destructans occurred in fresh and aged samples at all three sites but persisted for 12 weeks only at the interior roost, where antifungal bacterial taxa were depleted [13]. This finding suggests that roost conditions influence both pathogen persistence and the protective microbiome, and that guano sampling can detect the pathogen even in the absence of visible signs of disease [13].

Wind Turbine Mortality

Wind energy development poses a significant threat to bats, particularly migratory species that fly at turbine blade height. Bats are killed by direct collision with turbine blades and by barotrauma, which is internal injury caused by rapid pressure changes near moving blades.

Species Most at Risk

Migratory and high-flying aerial insectivores are most vulnerable to wind turbine mortality. These species tend to fly in open airspace at heights that overlap with turbine rotor swept zones. The threat is concentrated during seasonal migration periods and on nights with low wind speeds, when bats are more active and turbines are more likely to be operating.

Management Responses

Evidence-based management responses include siting turbines away from known migration corridors and roosts, implementing curtailment strategies that reduce turbine operation during periods of high bat activity, and using deterrent technologies. The effectiveness of specific interventions varies by site and species, and ongoing research is needed to refine these approaches.

Climate Change

Climate change affects bats through multiple pathways, including altered temperature and precipitation regimes, shifts in prey availability, changes in hibernation conditions, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Direct and Indirect Effects

Climate change can alter the timing of insect emergence, which may create mismatches between bat breeding seasons and peak prey availability. Changes in temperature and humidity can affect hibernation energetics, making bats more vulnerable to white-nose syndrome and other stressors. Drought can reduce water availability, which is critical for lactating females and for bats in arid regions.

Range Shifts and Habitat Tracking

As climate conditions change, bats may need to shift their geographic ranges to track suitable conditions. The ability to shift ranges depends on habitat connectivity and the availability of suitable roosting and foraging habitat in new areas. Species with narrow thermal tolerances and specialized habitat requirements are most vulnerable to climate-driven range shifts.

Interactions with Other Threats

Climate change interacts with other threats in complex ways. For example, the research on white-nose syndrome recovery found that environmental conditions drive selection and recovery following disease-induced declines, meaning that climate conditions influence both the initial impact of the disease and the evolutionary response of bat populations [12]. Climate change may also increase the frequency and severity of wildfires, which destroy bat habitat [18], and may alter the distribution of pathogens and their vectors.

Roost Disturbance and Destruction

Bats depend on roosts for shelter, reproduction, and hibernation. Roost disturbance and destruction are significant threats, particularly for species that roost in caves, mines, buildings, and large trees.

Cave Disturbance

Human entry into caves can disturb hibernating bats, causing them to wake and deplete fat reserves. Disturbance during the maternity season can cause females to abandon young or move to suboptimal roosts. Cave gating, while sometimes used to protect bats, has unclear effectiveness according to meta-analysis [5].

Rock Climbing and Recreation

Recreation can conflict with bat conservation. Collaborative conservation of cave-roosting bats requires guidance on managing rock climbing near caves [21]. Climbing near cave entrances can disturb roosting bats, and the installation of climbing bolts can damage cave structures. Collaborative approaches that involve climbers, land managers, and bat researchers can develop solutions that protect bats while allowing responsible recreation [21].

Building and Tree Roosts

Many bat species roost in buildings and trees, which are often destroyed during development or renovation. Exclusion of bats from buildings during the maternity season can strand flightless young inside. Tree removal can eliminate roosts for species that depend on large trees with cavities or loose bark.

Direct Killing and Hunting

Bats are killed directly for multiple reasons, including bushmeat hunting, pest persecution, and vandalism. The review of major threats to global bat conservation identifies bushmeat hunting as a significant threat [3]. Bats are hunted for food in many parts of Asia and Africa, and the harvest of large colonial species can be unsustainable.

Cultural and Economic Drivers

The socioeconomic benefits associated with bats include their use for food and income, which was the most prevalent benefit identified in a review of 235 papers [6]. While this demonstrates the value of bats to human communities, it also indicates the scale of harvest pressure. Conservation approaches must address the underlying drivers of hunting while providing alternative livelihoods and food sources.

Persecution and Stigma

Bats are also killed due to fear, misunderstanding, and stigma. The association of bats with disease, discussed below, has led to persecution in some regions. Education and community engagement are essential to reduce persecution and build support for bat conservation.

Disease and Zoonotic Spillover

Bats are reservoirs for a range of viruses, including coronaviruses, and this has implications for both bat conservation and public health. The relationship between bat conservation and disease surveillance is complex, but research networks can find solutions that promote both.

Bat Coronaviruses

Seven zoonoses have emerged from the Coronaviridae family in the past century, including three viruses responsible for significant human mortality in the past twenty years: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 [10]. These three viruses, in addition to two older coronavirus zoonoses, are believed to be originally derived from wild bat reservoir species [10]. The adaptive capacity of coronaviruses largely results from their large genomes, which reduce the risk of deleterious mutational errors and facilitate range-expanding recombination events [10]. Bat-borne SARS-related coronaviruses in the subgenus Sarbecovirus present a particularly poignant pandemic threat due to the extraordinary viral genetic diversity represented among several sympatric species of their horseshoe bat hosts [10].

Receptor Use and Zoonotic Potential

Research on MERS-CoV relatives in bats has revealed that some bat coronaviruses can use angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as an entry receptor, similar to SARS-CoV-2 [4]. The closest known MERS-CoV relative found in bats, NeoCoV, and its close relative PDF-2180, can efficiently bind to and use specific bat ACE2 orthologues and, less favorably, human ACE2 as entry receptors [4]. This research underscores a promiscuity of receptor use and a potential zoonotic threat [4].

Conservation and Surveillance Integration

Bat research networks and viral surveillance are sometimes assumed to be at odds due to seemingly conflicting research priorities [8]. Yet human threats that contribute to declines in bat populations globally also lead to increased transmission and spread of bat-associated viruses, which may pose a threat to global health and food security [8]. Multidisciplinary collaborations between bat research networks and infectious disease experts can tackle shared threats that jeopardize bat conservation as well as human and animal health [8].

Regional Research Gaps

Western Asia has limited published research on bats and represents a gap for coordinated bat research [8]. The lack of bat research in Western Asia severely limits the capacity to identify and mitigate region-specific threats to bat populations and detect interactions between bats and incidental hosts that promote virus spillover [8]. A regional initiative to establish the first bat research network in Western Asia, the Western Asia Bat Research Network, aims to integrate ecological research on bats with virus surveillance to find solutions that promote bat conservation and safeguard public and animal health across the region [8].

Conservation Prioritization and Planning

Effective bat conservation requires systematic prioritization of species, roosts, and geographic areas.

Species-Level Prioritization

Priority-setting approaches for bats use practical methods to guide effective species conservation and policy-making [22]. These approaches typically incorporate species richness, conservation status, threat level, and ecological distinctiveness to identify priority species and actions [22].

Roost-Level Prioritization

A global multicriteria bat roost priority index has been developed to prioritize bat roosts for conservation using community science data [9]. The index integrates roost seasonality, uniqueness, and vulnerability, and provides a linear classification of all assessed roosts according to conservation action priority [9]. The index also offers objective quantification of the threats affecting a roost [9]. Using community data from 568 bat roosts, the index was applied to the 50 most well-sampled roosts and compared with three other indices [9]. The index can be used to define important bat conservation areas in specific regions in terms of underground and aboveground roosts, an important need and common request from policy makers [9].

Landscape-Level Prioritization

Landscape-level prioritization uses species scores and threat scores to identify areas with the most management need [7]. This approach can place each sampling area into conservation categories ranging from highest priority, with high species score and high threat score, to lowest priority, with low species score and low threat score [7].

Expert Knowledge

Expert knowledge can identify key threats and conservation strategies for wildlife, as demonstrated in a case study with bats in China [19]. Expert elicitation can fill data gaps and provide guidance for conservation planning in regions where systematic survey data are limited [19].

Regional Conservation Context

Bat conservation needs and approaches vary by region, and regional assessments are essential for effective action.

Jordan and the Middle East

Bat diversity and conservation in Jordan have been assessed to identify species present, their distribution, and the threats they face [20]. The Middle East is a region with limited bat research, and regional assessments are needed to guide conservation action [20].

The Philippines

Priority-setting for Philippine bats uses practical approaches to guide effective species conservation and policy-making in the Anthropocene [22]. The Philippines has high bat diversity with many endemic species, and conservation prioritization is essential given limited resources [22].

North America

North America faces the dual threats of white-nose syndrome and wind turbine mortality. Research on the bat skin microbiome and on environmental conditions driving disease recovery provides a foundation for management [11][12]. The persistence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans in guano samples at interior roosts suggests that roost conditions influence pathogen persistence [13].

Actionable Conservation Steps for Individuals

Individuals can take meaningful actions to support bat conservation. The following steps are organized by the scale at which they operate.

Home and Property

Install a bat house to provide roosting habitat, particularly in areas where natural roosts are scarce. Place the bat house on a south or southeast facing surface, at least 10 to 15 feet above the ground, and away from bright lights and busy roads.

Preserve mature trees with cavities, loose bark, and snags that provide roosting habitat. Avoid tree removal during the maternity season, which typically runs from May through August in temperate regions.

Reduce outdoor lighting or use motion sensors and downward-facing fixtures. Artificial light is associated with decreased bat species richness [7], and dark corridors allow bats to commute between roosts and foraging areas.

Avoid pesticides and support organic farming. Insectivorous bats provide pest suppression services, and pesticide use reduces prey availability and can poison bats directly.

Community and Advocacy

Support local land trusts and conservation organizations that protect bat habitat. Habitat loss is the most pervasive threat to bats, and protecting natural areas is the most direct way to address it.

Advocate for bat-friendly wind energy policies. Support research on turbine curtailment and deterrent technologies, and encourage wind energy developers to site turbines away from migration corridors and roosts.

Participate in community science bat monitoring programs. The bat roost priority index is available on the Bat Monitoring Programme online platform, where index values are calculated and shown for every registered bat roost [9]. Community science data are essential for roost prioritization and conservation planning [9].

Cave and Roost Etiquette

Stay out of caves and mines that are known to harbor hibernating bats, particularly during the hibernation season. If you must enter a cave, follow decontamination protocols to avoid spreading Pseudogymnoascus destructans and other pathogens.

Report bat colonies in buildings to local wildlife agencies before excluding them. Exclusion should only be done outside the maternity season, and one-way exclusion devices should be installed by professionals.

Education and Outreach

Share accurate information about bats with friends, family, and community members. Bats provide fundamental roles in supporting human welfare [6], and education can reduce persecution and build support for conservation.

Support bat conservation organizations financially or through volunteer time. Global and regional networks that connect researchers, conservation practitioners, and local stakeholders are vital to ensuring sustainable bat populations worldwide [3].

Records and Measurements for Bat Conservation

Effective bat conservation requires systematic data collection and record keeping. The following measurements are used by researchers and conservation practitioners.

Population Monitoring

Population monitoring involves regular counts of bats at roosts, including hibernacula counts in winter and maternity colony counts in summer. Acoustic monitoring uses bat detectors to record echolocation calls, which can be classified to species or sonotype [14]. Long-term monitoring data are essential for detecting population trends and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions [5].

Threat Assessment

Threat assessment quantifies the landscape level threats that bats could encounter, including urbanization, artificial light, and land protection status [7]. Threat scores can be combined with species scores to prioritize areas for management [7].

Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance involves testing bats and guano for pathogens, including Pseudogymnoascus destructans [13]. Guano sampling offers a non-invasive method to characterize the gut microbiome, diet, and environmental microbes and pathogens of conservation concern [13].

Roost Assessment

Roost assessment evaluates the conservation importance of roosts based on seasonality, uniqueness, and vulnerability [9]. The bat roost priority index provides a standardized method for this assessment [9].

Common Failure Patterns in Bat Conservation

Conservation efforts can fail for predictable reasons. Recognizing these patterns can improve the design and implementation of conservation actions.

Inadequate Baseline Data

Many bat conservation efforts proceed without adequate baseline data on population status and trends. Compared to other mammals and birds, significantly less is known about the population status of most bat species [3]. Without baseline data, it is impossible to detect declines or evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Single-Threat Focus

Bats face multiple simultaneous threats, and addressing only one threat may be insufficient. For example, protecting hibernacula from disturbance does not address habitat loss on the summer range or mortality at wind turbines. Conservation planning must consider the full range of threats affecting a population.

Ignoring Local Context

Conservation needs vary by local habitat, and concentrated conservation efforts at small spatial scales can be critical [7]. Interventions that work in one region may not work in another due to differences in species composition, habitat, and threat intensity.

Lack of Community Engagement

Conservation efforts that do not engage local communities are less likely to succeed. Bats provide benefits to human welfare, including food and income [6], and communities that value bats are more likely to support their conservation.

Inadequate Monitoring of Interventions

Monitoring of bat populations as an effective conservation strategy was unclear and infrequently tested in the meta-analysis of conservation interventions [5]. Without monitoring, it is impossible to know whether interventions are working or to adapt management approaches.

Limitations and Knowledge Gaps

The evidence base for bat conservation has significant limitations that should be acknowledged.

Data Deficiency

Over a third of bat species assessed by the IUCN are considered threatened or data deficient [3]. Well over half of all assessed species have unknown or decreasing population trends [3]. This means that conservation decisions are often made without adequate information.

Geographic Bias

Bat research is unevenly distributed globally. Western Asia has limited published research on bats and represents a gap for coordinated bat research [8]. Sarbecovirus surveillance has been almost entirely restricted to China [10]. Conservation planning in understudied regions must account for this uncertainty.

Intervention Effectiveness

The effectiveness of many conservation interventions is unclear. Gating of roost entrances was applied to preserve bat populations in 21 studies, but its effectiveness was unclear [5]. Habitat restoration and disturbance reduction positively affected bat populations in four or fewer studies [5]. More rigorous testing of interventions is needed.

Limited Integration

Only 4% of bat studies simultaneously considered other subterranean organisms [5]. Effective interventions for bat conservation had similarities with all other organisms, suggesting that if other subterranean organisms are considered when applying interventions to conserve bats, they might also benefit [5].

Safety and Regulatory Context

Bat conservation occurs within a regulatory framework that varies by jurisdiction. Individuals and organizations working with bats should be aware of applicable laws and safety considerations.

Legal Protections

Many bat species are protected under national and international laws. In the United States, several bat species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and all bats are protected to varying degrees under state laws. In the European Union, all bat species are protected under the Habitats Directive. Penalties for disturbing bats or destroying roosts can be substantial, and individuals should consult local wildlife agencies before undertaking activities that might affect bats.

Disease Safety

Bats can carry diseases that are transmissible to humans, including coronaviruses [10]. Individuals should never handle bats directly. If a bat is found in a living space, contact local wildlife authorities for safe removal. Follow decontamination protocols when entering caves to avoid spreading Pseudogymnoascus destructans [5].

Professional Escalation Criteria

Consult a wildlife professional or veterinarian if you encounter bats in unusual circumstances, including bats flying during the day in winter, bats unable to fly, or bats in living spaces. Report dead bats to local wildlife agencies, as they may be indicators of disease or other threats. If you find a bat colony in a building, contact a professional wildlife exclusion service before taking action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest threat to bat populations?

Habitat loss and degradation are the most pervasive threats to bat populations globally. Bats require foraging areas, roosting sites, and commuting corridors, and the conversion of natural habitats to agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure removes or degrades all three. Research in Malaysia found that forest foragers were positively affected by vegetation density and negatively affected by distance to the closest neighboring forest patch [14]. Research in South Africa found that narrow space foraging bats were largely excluded from simplified agricultural landscapes [15].

What is white-nose syndrome and how does it affect bats?

White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that has devastated North American bat populations [11]. The fungus grows on the skin of hibernating bats, causing them to wake frequently during hibernation and deplete fat reserves. Research has found that initial declines were greater and faster in warmer sites, but these populations recovered more quickly and hosts developed higher resistance than populations from colder sites [12].

How do wind turbines kill bats?

Bats are killed by wind turbines through direct collision with blades and by barotrauma, which is internal injury caused by rapid pressure changes near moving blades. Migratory and high-flying aerial insectivores are most vulnerable. Management responses include siting turbines away from migration corridors and implementing curtailment strategies during periods of high bat activity.

Can bats transmit diseases to humans?

Bats are reservoirs for a range of viruses, including coronaviruses. Seven zoonoses have emerged from the Coronaviridae family in the past century, including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2, which are believed to be originally derived from wild bat reservoir species [10]. Research has found that some bat coronaviruses can use human ACE2 as an entry receptor, underscoring a potential zoonotic threat [4]. Individuals should never handle bats directly.

What should I do if I find a bat in my home?

Contact local wildlife authorities for safe removal. Do not handle the bat directly, as bats can carry diseases transmissible to humans. If the bat is in a living space, close the door to the room and open a window to allow the bat to exit, then contact professionals for follow-up. If you find a bat colony in a building, contact a professional wildlife exclusion service before taking action.

How can I help bats in my backyard?

Install a bat house on a south or southeast facing surface at least 10 to 15 feet above the ground. Preserve mature trees with cavities and loose bark. Reduce outdoor lighting or use motion sensors and downward-facing fixtures, as artificial light is associated with decreased bat species richness [7]. Avoid pesticides and support organic farming.

Are bats protected by law?

Many bat species are protected under national and international laws. In the United States, several bat species are listed under the Endangered Species Act, and all bats are protected to varying degrees under state laws. In the European Union, all bat species are protected under the Habitats Directive. Penalties for disturbing bats or destroying roosts can be substantial.

Why is bat conservation important?

Bats provide fundamental roles in supporting human welfare, including insect suppression, pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling [6]. A review of 235 papers found that bats are most commonly utilized for material and immaterial benefits such as food and income, followed by their use in addressing health challenges [6]. Bats are

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• A review of the major threats and challenges to global bat conservation.. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2020.
• Close relatives of MERS-CoV in bats use ACE2 as their functional receptors.. Nature, 2022.
• Effective conservation of subterranean-roosting bats.. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 2024.
• Socioeconomic benefits associated with bats.. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine, 2024.
• Quantification of threats to bats at localized spatial scales for conservation and management.. PloS one, 2024.
• Bat Research Networks and Viral Surveillance: Gaps and Opportunities in Western Asia.. Viruses, 2019.
• Prioritizing bat roosts for conservation with a global multicriteria bat roost priority index based on community science.. Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 2026.
• The zoonotic potential of bat-borne coronaviruses.. Emerging topics in life sciences, 2020.
• Bat skin microbiome and the association of ecoregion and bat species that impacted isolation of members with bioactivity against Pseudogymnoascus destructans.. 2026.
• Environmental conditions drive selection and recovery following disease-induced declines. 2026.
• Microbial, dietary insect, and pathogen communities in fresh and decomposing guano of anthropic little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) maternity colonies. 2026.
• Foraging guild modulates insectivorous bat responses to habitat loss and insular fragmentation in peninsular Malaysia. bioRxiv, 2023.
• Bat guilds respond differently to habitat loss and fragmentation at different scales in macadamia orchards in South Africa. 2021.
• Habitat loss and range shifts contribute to ecological generalization among reef fishes. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2021.
• The effects of habitat loss on bat-fruit networks. Biodiversity and Conservation, 2018.
• Loss of potential bat habitat following a severe wildfire: a model-based rapid assessment. 2018.
• Using expert knowledge to identify key threats and conservation strategies for wildlife: A case study with bats in China. Global Ecology and Conservation, 2023.
• Bat diversity and conservation in Jordan. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 2006.
• Collaborative conservation of cave-roosting bats: guidance on managing rock climbing near caves. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2025.
• Priority-setting for philippine bats using practical approach to guide effective species conservation and policy-making in the anthropocene. Hystrix, 2019.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.