Bats are long-lived, slow-breeding mammals that play vital roles in most of the Earth's ecosystems. Bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers in tropical regions, and serve as main predators of night flying insects in most parts of the world. Insect-eating bats are estimated to save farmers billions of dollars each year by providing pest control. (1)
Prior to the year 2000, intentional killing by humans caused the greatest proportion of mortality events in bats globally. The reasons varied with region, but bats were hunted for human consumption, killed as pests, and to protect fruit crops. Although the proportion of international killing reports declined in recent times, such acts continue in some parts of the world. Since the dawn of the 21st century, however, white nose syndrome and collisions with wind turbines worldwide are the primary reported causes of mass mortality in bats.
