What are the Threats to Bats and How Can We Help Them?

Bats are often misunderstood and undervalued creatures, yet they play a vital role in our ecosystem. As pollinators and natural pest controllers, they help keep our world healthy and balanced. However, bats face numerous threats that put their survival at risk. In this post, we'll explore the threats facing bats and how you can help save them.

Learn more about the benefits of bats.

The Main Threats To Bats and How You Can Help Save Them

1. Habitat Loss

One of the main threats to bat populations is habitat loss. As forests and other natural habitats are destroyed for urbanization, agriculture, and other human activities, bats lose their roosting and foraging sites. Bats need a variety of habitats to survive, including caves, trees, and man-made structures such as bridges and buildings.

By preserving and restoring natural habitats, protecting trees, and providing bat houses, we can help provide safe spaces for bats to roost and forage.

You can directly help bats by planting more trees, installing a bat box, and creating a bat-friendly garden. Help to raise awareness of the need to preserve trees and protect our pollinators by spreading the word through social media and by wearing our Protect our Planet Collection.

Photo: @thewildlylife

2. White-Nose Syndrome

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations in North America. The disease attacks the skin of hibernating bats and causes them to wake up from hibernation too early, leading to starvation and dehydration.

Since its discovery in 2006, WNS has killed millions of bats across the continent. According to White-Nose Syndrome Response Team, at some bat hibernation sites, 90 to 100 percent of bats have died from WNS. The fungus is mainly spread through bat-to-bat contact, but can also be picked up from the environment. 

If you're visiting an area close to hibernating bats, such as caves, it's essential to follow guidelines on decontaminating gear, clothing, and shoes to prevent the spread of the fungus. 

3. Climate Change

Climate change is another significant threat to bats. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can affect the availability of food and water sources, disrupt hibernation and migration patterns, and alter habitats.

By playing our part in helping to stop climate change, such as minimizing air travel, switching to electric cars,and turning off the air conditioning, we can help mitigate the effects on bat populations.

4. Human Disturbance

Human disturbance is also a significant threat to bat populations. Disturbance from activities such as tourism, recreation, and construction can disrupt bat roosts and feeding patterns, leading to stress and reduced reproduction rates.

Obeying any signs in bat roosting areas is extremely important. If caves are closed, this must be respected in order to protect hibernating bats. 

Bats face numerous threats that put their survival at risk, including habitat loss, white-nose syndrome, climate change, and human disturbance. By supporting bat conservation efforts, we can help protect these valuable creatures and the vital role they play in our ecosystem. Whether it's through providing bat houses, avoiding disturbance, or promoting sustainable practices, we can all make a difference in saving bats.

Shop our Pollinator Collection to find bat shirts, hoodies, and more, plus plenty of other pollinator designs.