Why are we monitoring bats?
There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about bats which has led to them being villainised and even persecuted. Undoubtedly this has had an impact on both the funding and research allocated to bats and, on the protection, and appreciation of bats and the role they play in the ecosystem.
Bats make up about 20% of all mammal species, yet there are lots of ‘unknowns’ about bats in Western Australia. This makes it difficult for us to assess how populations are faring across the state and to identify the extent of impacts on these populations resulting from pressures such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and other disturbances.
By setting up a broad-scale, long-term bat monitoring program we will aim to answer some of these unknown questions and build on the existing WA bat research that has been carried out by the handful of awesome WA bat researchers. We will aim to:
- Determine current distribution ranges and populations for our bats and look at changes and trends in these populations over time.
- Monitor the impact of habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change on our bat populations over time.
- Provide better protection and management for bats and their habitat, including empowering bat conservation and awareness at a grassroots level.
Why should we care?
Bats are an important part of the ecosystem – globally they play a role in pollination, seed dispersal and pest control.
- Did you know one little microbat can eat over 1000 insects (including mozzies and other pest species) in just one night? They help keep our insect populations in check.
- Bats are not only great indicators of ecosystem health, but they also aid soil quality by providing natural fertilisers (yes, I’m referring to bat guano or bat poo, and yes, it makes excellent fertiliser - some countries have even farmed and sold it!)
- Just like us, bats are incredibly social animals with complex social structures and family groups. They are also incredibly long-lived for a mammal of their size with the oldest known bat (weighing only 6g) living to at least 41 years!
Learn more about bats and some of the issues they're faced with by watching this short documentary, 'The Truth About Bats' and check out our Bats of Southwest WA, Bats of the Mid-West and Bats of the Wheatbelt booklets.
How can I get involved?
Western Australia is a HUGE place! To be able to achieve a broad-scale program we need help from everyone across the state. For the first year of the program we’ve been running a pilot program - we've included some more information about this below.
To keep up to date with bat conservation and research at CCWA, please register as a Bat Champion by emailing [email protected] with your name and location.
Bat Transect Pilot
We've just wrapped up our bat transect pilot. We'll share more information on the results and the plan for the future later this year.
What was the bat transect pilot? Each Bat Champion that choose to help with the bat transect walked a set route with a hand-held bat detector. These detectors are designed to record the echolocation calls of bats, which can be used to identify species presence. These bat detectors can be collected from one of our ‘kit hubs’, borrowed from one of our member groups.
Bat Champions walked the transect stopping at designated stopping points along the way and taking note throughout the walk of any bat activity (for example, ‘2 bats observed over the lake for 3 minutes’). This helps give us an idea of bat activity and to identify important foraging grounds and commuting routes.
The transect was walked by 2-4 Bat Champions (a minimum of two people: one person holding the detector, and one person completing the survey form).
Roost inspections and counts
Roost counts involve counting bats as they emerge from a bat roost. The type of roost will dictate how the roost is monitored and whether a roost count is possible.
At this stage we’re asking anyone that is aware of a bat roost, to let us know about it. We can then scope out the roost and determine whether it’s suitable for a roost count and how else we might be able to monitor it. During the scoping out and monitoring we'll collect valuable information about bat roost preferences, which will help inform the conservation of specific bat species roosts and feed into the creation of a bat roost database.
What is a bat roost? Put simply, a bat roost is somewhere that bats hang out!
Bats use a range of different structures to roost in, these can include trees (forest dwelling bats particularly love old mature trees, where they can roost in hollows, under lifted bark and in cracks), crevices in walls or under tiles, in bridges, in caves or old mines and of course bat boxes and other artificial roosts.
Bats will often roost switch (switch roosts every few days) and/or move roost throughout the year depending on the season. So even if bats aren’t present in a roost now, if they were there previously, then it’s likely a bat roost and we’d still love to hear about it!
Exact roost locations will not be publicised to ensure their protection and the privacy of any landowners that are fortunate enough to host a bat roost.
If you know of a bat roost please let us know here!
Bat Box Monitoring
We’ve received a lot of requests and questions regarding bat boxes and bat box monitoring of existing bat boxes. We've included some information on bat boxes in the resources section of this page. We’ve also been working on a methodology that members of the community can use to monitor their bat boxes.
Monitoring existing boxes will help us determine the occupancy of these bat boxes and also feed into our data collection on roost preferences and the creation of effective artificial roosts. One thing we know for sure is that bats are diverse, they all have different roosting requirements and one bat box won't suit all species.
We're currently trialing citizen science bat box monitoring methodology with a few sites with existing bat boxes.
Bat acoustic analysis
Bats produce ultrasonic sounds called echolocation. This is used a bit like a bat torch and helps a bat see in the dark. We can use a bat detector to record the ultrasonic calls and determine the presence of bats.
Sonagrams are produced from these call records and from this we can determine the species or genus of the bats present. The process of analysing these calls is commonly known as ‘bat acoustic analysis’ or ‘sound analysis’ and it a type of bioacoustic monitoring.
Once a bat walk has taken place and as part of scoping out bat roosts, we will need to carry out the analysis of the bat calls. This is quite technical and something that will require training and support. To achieve this, we plan to provide good guidance, resources (which includes developing regional echolocation guide and reference library), and a robust verification process.
The role will be largely home-based, with optional social gatherings and a network where you can ask questions.
We’re currently taking expression of interest for this role - for beginners, we’ll be offering training next Autumn, and for those that have some experience already, you’ll be welcomed to join our existing group.
Please send an email to [email protected] with ‘Bat Acoustics’ in the subject line and include a sentence about your bat acoustic experience.
Bat Detector Kit Hubs
We currently have a limited number of bat detector kits that we are using to set up a ‘Kit Hubs’ in Perth and the southwest region. Half of these detectors were donated by Faunatech and half were received as part of a grant from Wildlife Acoustics.
A Kit Hub is a central place where Bat Champions can book to collect/ drop off a bat detector kit, which can then be used to take part in citizen science Bat Transects and Bat Box Monitoring.
We now have established detector kit hubs at Margaret River, Albany, West Perth, Currambine and Rockingham.
Please note the bat detector kit hubs will be unavailable during Autumn so we can carry out calibration and maintenance of the detectors.
We’re also encouraging groups to apply for grants to purchase their own bat detector kit. With support from CCWA, purchasing a detector kit will help enable groups to set up and carry out bat transects, bat walks and monitoring on their own site.
The detector kit includes:
- An Echo Meter Touch 2 detector
- A compatible android tablet or device
- Protective case for your android device
- Adaptor (required for some android devices)
We’re happy to support groups in the grant application process by providing a letter of support, references and/ or answer any other questions, as required. For this support please email [email protected]
Other ways to get involved
There are other opportunities to get involved, including helping with educational stalls, talks, trapping and echolocation call collection. You may also like to get involved with one of the following initiatives.
WA Bat Network
- Increase awareness of bat research projects within WA to reduce the risk of duplicating efforts and encourage collaborative working.
- Advocate for bat conservation by increasing community awareness and engagement in bat conservation at the grassroots level.
- Collectively identify and report on the threatening processes that affect our precious bat species.
Spread the word
Donations
If you don’t have the time to give, but would still like to support the program, please consider donating to our program. You can do this through our donation page and drop a line in the comments box to say you’re inspired to donate to the bat program/citizen science program.
We're also more than happy to arrange bat nights and talks for groups in return for a donation to support this program. Please send your requests to [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
This bat monitoring program has been made possible with thanks to our generous sponsors:
Please get in touch if you or your organisation is interested in becoming a sponsor for the CCWA Bat Monitoring Program.
General Bat FAQ
What to do if you find an injured bat?
Please contact your local wildlife rescue and they’ll be able to put you in touch with a trained, vaccinated bat carer. Please do not attempt to pick up the bat – the bat carer will be able to ask you some questions and best advise you on whether the bat needs help and what to do next.
FYI - bats go into 'topor' (a deep sleep) during the day, which can sometimes be mistaken as the bat being injured. It's important to not disturb bats in torpor. The bat carer will be able to advise you on whether the bat is likely in topor or injured and needs some help.
Help, a bat is flying around my house!
In most cases the bat is just as (if not more scared than you) and will make it’s own way out, but to help the bat do this you can close the internal doors to keep the bat contained to one room, dim the lights and then open all the external doors and windows. Please also contain any pets you have.
I have a bat roost in my house, should I be concerned?
No, bats that roost in houses are insectivorous (eat insects), and are not dangerous to humans or pets. In fact, they help control populations of insects. Their droppings are not known to be a source of disease, and will quickly dry with little or no odour. A small percentage of bats carry Australian Bat Lyssavirus, a rabies-related disease. It can only be transmitted via saliva from an infected bat. If you do not handle bats, you should not be at risk.
Microbats are clean and sociable animals that will not nibble or gnaw wood, wires or insulation, they also don't build nests and won't bring in nesting materials. All they are after is a place to rest. Left to their own devices, microbats can be fine house guests.
If you have a bat roosting in your house you might find these resources helpful:
We don't know a lot about the roosting preferences of our WA bat species, but we do know that they're losing roosting habitat. Learning about bat roosting preferences will help us create more suitable artificial roosts for the different bat species - an important conservation effort for protecting our bat species. For this reason, we'd love to hear more about the bat roost in your house, so please drop us an email at [email protected]
Why do I have bats roosting in my house?
In Australia most microbat species roost in trees, while others roost in caves. Suitable tree roosts are often found only in large old trees, as the cracks and hollows that microbats use take a long time to form. These tree roosts are often destroyed by people ‘over-tidying’ dead wood, removing old trees from their properties, and from land clearing for mining and development. In the face of this bat housing shortage, some microbat species will seek refuge in buildings instead.
Can I catch rabies from being in the same room as a bat?
Simply put, no, but let’s dive into this question a little further.
Although uncommon, Australian bats can carry Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), which is a disease related to rabies. This is why only people with rabies vaccinations, the appropriate PPE and training should handle bats.
You’ll only catch Lyssavirus if you handle an infected bat and it bites or scratches you, or and infected bat’s saliva gets in through your mouth, nose, or eyes! You won’t catch it from being in the same room as the bat – it’s not transmitted through the air. Doing a roost count or bat walk will not put you at risk of contracting Lyssavirus or put you at a greater risk of contracting any other virus.
Any bat handling undertaken during the Bat Monitoring Program will be carried out by in line with the ABS Bat Handling Guideline by trained, vaccinated individuals.
More info here can be found here Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) | Agriculture and Food
Resources
Bats of Southwest WA (PDF) and Bats of Southwest WA (Printable)
A booklet showcasing the 9 species of bat found in Perth, Peel, the Southwest and Great Southern regions of Western Australia.
Resources on bat boxes, bat handling guidelines and various other bat related things across the country. They also have a handy Bat Map, so you can learn what species you might have flying around your area. A fantastic group to join!
Bat Boxes
The Bat House Builder’s Handbook, Bat Conservation International
A great resource on building and installing (microbat) bat boxes. Not an Australian specific guide, but still a really useful resource packed full of great information.
Bat Boxes, Bat Conservation Trust (BCT)
The Bat Conservation Trust have lots of information and considerations to take when putting up bat boxes and different bat box designs.
Australian research on bat boxes
Melbourne's bat box monitoring program has produced lots of interesting research on the use of bat boxes in Australia. Some of the bat species found in Melbourne are the same as in Perth and the southwest, so a lot of this information is likely relevant for our bat species too.