Know Where Bats Roost? The DNR Wants Your Help

Michigan’s bat population is in sharp decline due to disease. The DNR urges residents to report bat roosts to help conservation efforts.

Types of Bats Found in Michigan

Michigan has nine different types of bat species. These include the big brown bat, eastern red bat, evening bat, Hoary bat, Indiana bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared bat, silver-haired bat, and the tricolored bat.

Of the nine species of bats found in Michigan, five are either threatened or endangered: the evening bat, the Indiana bat, the little brown bat, the northern long-eared bat, and the tricolored bat.

The northern long-eared bat and the little brown bat have had significant declines in populations due to a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome.

Read More: Is That a Panther in Michigan? The Truth Behind the Post

Have You Seen Bats Roosting? Report It to the DNR Today

White-nose syndrome has wiped out nearly 90% of Michigan’s bat population.. The DNR says the bat population is slowly stabilizing, but needs your help locating roosting areas to help scientists monitor their recovery.

According to the DNR, as temperatures rise, bats become more active, which means you may spot them flying from their roost at dusk. Barns, bridges, caves, chimneys, and trees are all possible locations for a bat roosting site.

The DNR has partnered with Michigan State University (MSU) on a new Michigan Bat Roost Monitoring Program. Visit the Michigan Natural Features Inventory website to report a sighting..

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Bats play a crucial role in the Michigan ecosystem by providing natural pest control. Bats help agriculture by eating beetles and moths. They also contribute to the health of the environment by eating insects that may carry diseases, like mosquitoes.

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