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Extinction
Unfortunately, bat populations are declining. With their low birth rate and specialized habitat needs, they are especially vulnerable to extinction. Nine bat species are listed as federally endangered:
- Gray bat
- Hawaiian hoary bat
- Indiana bat
- Lesser long-nosed bat
- Little Mariana fruit bat (Guam)
- Marian fruit bat (Guam)
- Greater Mexican long-nosed bat
- Ozark big-eared bat
- Virginia big-eared bat
There are twenty other species under consideration for listing as endangered or threatened status. Despite their importance, many people still fear and misunderstand bats. A number of factors threaten their survival and many are the result of human activity, including destruction of winter and summer habitats, winter disturbance, vandalism, and overuse of pesticides.
The federal Endangered Species Act requires the US Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve threatened or endangered species by listing them for protection and designating critical habitat needed for the species to recover. Bat conservation and recovery has focused attention on the need to gather information on species distribution, populations, and ecology. Surveys of summer roosts and wintering areas, as well as mist netting, are used to determine species presence and populations. Radio telemetry and banding are used to help identify movement patterns and foraging areas. Long-term monitoring provides information on population trends and the effectiveness of a management plan.
Read about the potential effects of global change on bats.
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