How UNH is Helping Track the Recovery of Bats in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's bat populations began to decline dramatically in 2009 following the arrival of white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has caused severe declines in bat populations across the state and much of North America. NH Bat Counts – a collaborative effort between New Hampshire Fish and Game, UNH Extension, and volunteer landowners – is one of the state's key programs supporting bat conservation and recovery. 

Now, the program is partnering with UNH researchers to better understand how bats use sound to navigate their world while also using acoustic monitoring and thermal imaging technology to study and count bat populations. 

Bats provide tremendous economic value by consuming insect pests. Estimates vary, but studies indicate bats contribute around $50 billion in insect pest control services every year and the loss of North American bats could lead to agricultural losses estimated at $3.7 billion annually. Without bats, managing insect pests becomes more expensive, increasing costs and potential losses for industries such as agriculture and forestry in New Hampshire.

Learn more about bat echolocation in this video.