They needed to learn more in order to provide management recommendations to the park to ensure the bat was protected in the management plan, so in August of 2022, BCI and the multi-national team (including Nyungwe Park rangers and the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association) returned to the rainforests of Rwanda. Their aim was simple: to again capture a Hill’s horseshoe bat and track it back to where it roosts. To date no one knows what the bats use for shelter during the day, the size of the colonies they form, movement patterns, or diet, which are all key factors when designing conservation management plans to protect a species.

After multiple nights without success, the team was finally able to catch a single adult female Hill’s horseshoe bat and radio-track her back to her roost, which they found was also used by other Hill’s horseshoe bats. This was an important discovery because up until this point scientists had believed it was likely the species roosted in caves, since other bats in the family commonly roost in caves, and there weren’t many large trees in the area they would have thought were suitable. However, the bat they followed back—along with the other bats roosting in the location—roosted in a tree. This is vital information when seeking to prioritize areas for conservation and learn more about a species. It is key to know where to find them. Locating a roost also allows for the collection of guano samples for DNA analysis to learn more about what the bats are eating in order to help protect the ecosystem. Ongoing research continues, including acoustic monitoring efforts to determine the distribution of the bat within the park.

In northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S., Mexican long-nosed bat populations have decreased by half over the past several decades due to habitat loss and roost disturbance. Bats and agave have a mutualistic relationship, with bats flying from flower to flower drinking nectar and spreading the pollen that they collect on their fur, faces, and wings, helping to propagate new agaves. In turn, the agave flowers provide nourishment to pregnant female bats along their long-distance migratory journey.

Agave plants are also vitally important to people in the region, with a rich ethnobotanical history involving Mexican culture and religion. People use agaves to produce products like tequila, mezcal, bacanora, aguamiel, pulque, and agave syrup. The plants’ leaves, stalks, and rosettes can be used for everything from making paper and rope, to feeding cattle, and making soap. Agave roots help stabilize the soil and control erosion. However, land use change, unsustainable livestock grazing, climate change, and drought are among the threats agaves face.

According to BCI Chief Scientist Dr. Winifred Frick, “The State of the Bats Report was a significant effort that brought together over 100 experts from Canada, USA, and Mexico. The trilateral effort was the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive assessment of bats and their threats in North America.” Experts used specific criteria to assess populations and threats for each species according to a systematic process.

The report establishes extinction threat levels for each species in each country, allowing conservation organizations to identify which bats are most at risk. It evaluates how major threats like climate change, white-nose syndrome, and wind farms imperil bat species, which will help scientists weigh the value of possible protective actions. It also documents a baseline population assessment that people can use for comparison with population status and trends measured in the future through the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat). This will help conservation groups determine which interventions are most effective.

As part of AYRW’s bat programming, the kids took a field trip to Bracken Cave, and students were also able to see some of Austin’s famous bats on a boat ride on Lady Bird Lake. Additionally, BCI worked with the students to design, build, and maintain a bat garden at AYRW’s headquarters. The garden incorporates an array of plants that lure in tasty insects to help provide food for bats, as well as providing habitat features.

Surveys before and after the bat‑focused programming measured a marked positive change in students’ attitudes towards bats, and an increased awareness of their value to the ecosystem.