The Wisconsin DNR is encouraging residents to help protect bats during International Bat Week, October 24th through 31st, and throughout the year.
Bats are the only flying mammals and play an important role in Wisconsin’s ecosystems. They eat large numbers of insects, including agricultural pests, providing benefits to farmers and forest owners.
Wisconsin has eight bat species. Four are state-threatened, including the big brown, little brown, northern long-eared and tricolored bats. The silver-haired bat is also considered a species of special concern.
The biggest threat to Wisconsin bats is white-nose syndrome, a disease that affects bats during winter hibernation.
The DNR says recent surveys show little brown bat numbers are beginning to rebound at some important sites, after major declines since white-nose syndrome arrived in Wisconsin in 2014. However, other species, including the northern long-eared and tricolored bats, have not shown the same recovery.
Residents can help by building bat houses, planting native plants, controlling burdock, avoiding insecticides and herbicides, and making sure buckets in areas where bats are found are overturned or placed on their sides.
The DNR also encourages residents to participate in Bat Week events, volunteer for bat monitoring programs, or support Wisconsin’s endangered species conservation efforts.