Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for bat protection around the world.
02.03.25
In 2024, BCI pushed the boundaries of what’s possible for bat protection around the world.
BCI’s endeavors stretch across continents—from the Agave Restoration Initiative in North America to innovative conservation projects in Rwanda and Malaysia—demonstrating an unwavering dedication to protecting bats worldwide.
- Expanding our work in Brazil and India, which included identifying seven new colonies of the Endangered Brazilian funnel-eared bat (Natalus macrourus).
- Purchasing Kaboga Cave in Kenya, saving one of the last cave roosts for the Endangered Hildegarde’s tomb bat (Taphozous hildegardeae).
- Discovering the presence of Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) in Arizona through innovative eDNA technology and a citizen science initiative that empowers communities to help monitor nectar-feeding bats through non-invasive methods.
- Leading two new projects with the Gila and Santa Fe National Forests in New Mexico to help restore landscapes impacted by catastrophic wildfire designed to protect and restore water resources for bats and other wildlife.
- Protecting key foraging and roosting habitat for the endangered Florida Bonneted Bat in Miami through community advocacy and legal action that reversed plans for commercial development near Zoo Miami.
- Publishing 14 peer-reviewed papers, providing guidance on:
- Supporting bat populations that are affected by White Nose Syndrome (WNS) – published by the WNS program.
- Demonstrating efficacy for bat conservation – published by the Conservation Evidence program.
- Reducing bat fatalities at wind energy facilities- published by the Bats and Wind program.
- Building capacity for One Health work.
BCI Field Technician Ciara Parenzin holds a Mexican free-tailed bat during One Health work near Reno, Nevada. The bat was gently examined before being released. Photo by Rachel Harper
- Piloting a successful citizen science acoustic monitoring program through the North American Bat Monitoring program (NABat) hubs to generate bat monitoring data in urban areas while engaging the public in bat research.
- Launching new fellow-led conservation initiatives through the MENTOR-Bat program focusing on One Health issues in Cameroon, Colombia, and Indonesia in collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Completing research to test the use of UV light lures to attract insects and hungry bats as a way to support bats before and after hibernation in areas impacted by WNS.
- Publishing updated, STEM- focused education resources for schools, teachers, and parents, including a unique partnership with Discovery Education and Lego.
From conserving, learning, and spreading knowledge about bats, these accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without you! Your support helps continue our mission of ending bat extinction worldwide.
Continue to support us so we can do more for bats in 2025:
