Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation

Featured
Exaggerated Disease Warnings
Read More
Welcome to Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation
Inspiring bat conservation worldwide.
Photo Gallery
Bat Photos
View Now
Video Gallery
Share our videos to educate others about bat values
View Now
Resources
MTBC provides unique resources on a variety of conservation issues.
Learn Now

Become A Bat Fan For Free!

What is a bat fan?

*By entering your name and email address you agree that MTBC can contact you

Resources

Ever since I first introduced the idea of attracting bats to American yards in 1982, one of the most frequently asked questions has been, “Where can I purchase a good bat house?” The next, of course, is “How do I know bats will come?”

White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is caused by a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (formerly known as Geomyces destructans). It was first recorded from a photo taken in a cave in Schoharie County, New York in 2006.

Exaggerated Disease Warnings

Merlin’s Opinion Letter, “Fear of Bats and its Consequences,” was published in the Journal of Bat Research and Conservation. This is a thoroughly documented report on how exaggerated disease claims against bats have harmed bats and efforts to conserve them over the past 47 years—something all who care about bats should know.

Pesticide Addiction: How Bats Can Help

Following World War II, many farmers suddenly turned to DDT, the first modern pesticide. With great fanfare, it was hailed as a miracle discovery, protector of crops and eradicator of malaria. But such hopes were soon dashed.

Finding, Protecting, and Restoring America’s Historic Bat Caves

The largest losses of cave-dwelling bats often occur prior to a cave’s discovery by cavers or bat biologists. When looking for bat roosts we simply ask about caves where bats currently live. And too often, those we discover are locations of last resort for bats that have been forced to abandon preferred sites.

Essential Bat Values

Insect-eating bats save farmers approximately $23 billion in annual agricultural losses in the United States alone. Millions of free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave, Texas eat more than 100 tons of insects nightly, intercepting billions of migrant pests before they can lay eggs, a huge savings to farmers.

Good Intentions Can Still Leave a Bad Taste

Wrong approaches in defense of bats can be even worse than not defending them at all. Articles, such as the one published in the May 15 issue of Scientific American, “Bats are Not Our Enemies,” are meant to defend bats, but can unwittingly perpetuate needless fear and intolerance.