Bat Conservation Program-Mission
The FWC strives to protect and conserve bats through state-wide research programs, promoting bat education, conservation, and stewardship.
The FWC has several programs designed to learn more about and conserve bats! Here are a few ways we work hard to protect them.
The Florida Bat Force is the FWC’s one stop shop for getting the public involved in bat conservation activities.
What is the Bat Force?
The Florida Bat Force is a state-wide program promoting bat education, conservation, and stewardship.
Who can be in the Florida Bat Force?
Anyone interested in bats in Florida that are willing to actively take steps towards bat conservation can join. To learn more about how you can volunteer for the Florida Bat Force or other FWC statewide opportunities, fill out this contact form. For bat specific inquiries include, "Bat Force" in your message.
Florida’s Long-term Bat Monitoring Program (LTBMP), started in 2018, keeps track of the state's 13 types of bats by recording their sounds using special microphones that pick up high-pitched bat calls. This helps researchers identify which bats are around which habitat and what time of year they can be found there. The program follows the survey methods used by the North American Bat Monitoring Program and gives scientists valuable information over time to help protect Florida's bats. To learn more, check out the LTBMP website.
White-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed many bats in North America, but it has not been found in Florida. However, since WNS is in nearby states, the FWC is monitoring populations and getting ready as a precaution. The FWC keeps a close watch on bat hibernation spots, checking regularly for signs of WNS, and studying other winter roosts like bridges, culverts, and trees. This helps us understand how many bats are in the area, how the bats move around, and how best to protect bats if WNS arrives.
Found nowhere else in the world, the Florida bonneted bat calls South Florida home. Only recently have biologists started to understand more about this unique species. The FWC's biologists study roost preference, diet, and much more to learn the best conservation methods to preserve their populations.