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Buffalo Bat Habitat

Where's your bat habit at?

What happened to all the bats?

Since 2006, White Nose Syndrome (WNS) devastated bat populations in Western New York and across the northeastern US. Some species are approaching extinction. WNS is caused by a fungus that grows on hibernating bats. It infects their skin, causing them to awaken from hibernation in winter conditions they cannot survive.

If our diminished bat populations are to recover, they will need time, space and protection. The purpose of Buffalo Bat Habitat is to establish and maintain stable habitat for bats in the Western New York region, to support their recovery. We work with private and public landholders to create multi-acre bat conservation areas, as well as homeowners in smaller backyard settings. We also sponsor education programs, as the value of bats and their current plight must be understood widely and conveyed to succeeding generations, as recovery will require decades of committed conservation.

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Photo by Larry Master, https://www.MasterImages.org

*NEW* Check out our gallery of bat house installations*NEW*

Why Bat Houses?

Bats hunt for insects at night and need a place where they can rest and be safe from predators during the day. In a natural setting, they roost under tree bark or in tree cavities, or in caves or rock crevices. Lacking those options in a developed area, they’ll seek out bridges and buildings, which makes them vulnerable to accidents or removal by people, sometimes using inhumane methods. Bat houses fill the void, providing places for weary bats to roost and for mother bats to birth and nurture their pups.

"One of the best ways a person can help bats is by putting up a bat house."

- Dr. Jonathan Townsend, WNY Bat Biologist

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