Avoiding a conservation pitfall: Considering the risks of unsuitably hot bat boxes: Adding context to Crawford & O'Keefe

Abstract

Abstract As practitioners of mitigation and conservation of bats, we think use of artificial bat roosts contribute to bat conservation and should be encouraged. Problems with boxes identified by Reed and O'Keefe also exist with natural roosts, and they are more readily studied and managed with artificial than natural roosts. Use of boxes also provides an opportunity for citizen science, but more importantly engenders citizen conservation.

Keywords

• artificial roost
• bat box
• endangered species
• Indiana bat
• microclimate
• Myotis septentrionalis