Bat Conservation in Georgia

Bats are a valuable and fascinating part of Georgia's natural heritage. They provide a beneficial service by foraging on flying insects, many of which are pests. A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in one hour. They also eat large numbers of moths and beetles that cause agricultural damage.

Conservation Concerns

Georgia is home to 16 species of bats. Some of these appear to be adaptive; they opportunistically roost and forage in altered habitats such as suburban and agricultural landscapes. A few species, however, have specific habitat needs, such as caves with suitable temperature and humidity, or large, hollow bottomland trees.  Populations of these species are more vulnerable to habitat alterations and are of conservation concern. Other factors impacting bat populations include pesticides and water quality that impact aquatic-based food supplies, and more lately, a mysterious disease threat known as white-nose syndrome.

First observed in a New York cave in 2006, the condition is named for the fuzzy white fungus that grows on the wings and muzzles of  infected bats as they attempt to hibernate in caves. The bats become active and essentially starve before their normal awakening in the spring.

White-nose syndrome has since killed an estimated 5.7 millioin to 6.7 million bats, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Although not found in Georgia yet, state officials are working together to prepare for the deadly disease. Learn more about that effort here, or click here for the Fish and Wildlife Service website on white-nose.

Additional Resources:

White-nose syndrome

Bat Conservation International

Bat Field Identification Guides

Building Bat Roosting Boxes (plans, video)

Frequently asked questions:

Bats and Public Health (pdf)

Excluding Bats from Your Home (pdf)