Defenders' Experts
Bats: Management and Policy
Because bats play such an important role in healthy ecosystems, Defenders of Wildlife is working in support of policies and management that address major threats to these amazing animals.
Habitat Loss and Damaging Development
Working together with our allies in the conservation community, Defenders is fighting to protect the habitat that bats need to survive and to promote a healthy and sustainable environment.
Habitat Protection
Defenders of Wildlife works across the U.S. to protect the public and private lands where bats live from destructive and disruptive development.
Defenders has also contributed $5,000 from its Earth Friends Wild Species Fund to support the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network's efforts to restore important roosting habitat for two rare bat species: the Rafinesque's big-eared bat and the southeastern myotis. Both species can be found in Desoto National Forest in southern Mississippi, where 2005’s Hurricane Katrina destroyed many of the large trees in which the bats roost during spring and summer. Artificial roosts for the bats were installed in 2006 through a collaborative effort including the U.S. Forest Service (which also contributed $5,000), Defenders of Wildlife supporters and others.
Learn more about our habitat conservation efforts.
Wind Power
Defenders of Wildlife works to promote sensible energy development strategies to reduce the harmful impact of wind turbines on bats and other vital wildlife species.
For instance, Defenders is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) on wind power and is working with Bat Conservation International to improve the access of researchers to wind farms in the Appalachian Mountains, so that researchers can study the impacts of the farms in the hopes of reducing bat injuries and deaths. We have also drafted a set of guidelines for siting wind turbines and are active in planning decisions for new wind energy development projects across the country. The FAC is drafting a set of guidelines for siting wind turbines to guide planning decisions for new wind energy development projects across the country.
Learn more on our wind energy page.
Pesticides
Through education and direct advocacy, we also work to reduce the misuse of pesticides that can put unnecessary stress on bat populations.
Human Persecution
In 2007, Defenders joined with the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network to offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of individuals responsible for the deaths of more than 100 endangered Indiana bats in Carter Caves State Park in Kentucky (see press release). Today, Defenders of Wildlife continues our work to educate the public and policy makers about the vital role that bats and other wildlife play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Disease
Due to the rapid spread of white-nose syndrome, additional
research and the funding to enable that research is urgently needed. Defenders
is working with a coalition of groups concerned about the fate of bats to
educate Congress about this alarming disease and request action to address it.
Defenders and coalition members submitted a letter to Congress. The letter is found below.
May 20, 2009 letter to Congress asking for action to address white-nose syndrome
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