ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Leveraging the Power of Science, Conservation, and Partnerships to Prevent Bat Extinctions

Inside Endangered Species Interventions  Protect and Restore Landscapes  High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions  Inspiring Through Experience
Bat Conservation International logo
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Annual Report 2024

Leveraging the Power of Science, Conservation, and Partnerships to Prevent Bat Extinctions

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MISSION ONE
Endangered Species Interventions
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MISSION TWO
Protect and Restore Landscapes
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MISSION THREE
High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions
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MISSION FOUR
Inspire Through Experience
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Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
We Continue to Build Our Competencies in Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
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FINANCIALS
Financial Summary
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GIVING
Donor Profiles and Supporters
On the cover: Isabella Mandl, Ph.D., Regional Director Africa and South Asia, releases a Hildegarde’s tomb bat (Taphozous hildegardeae) at the Three Sisters Caves in Kenya. Photo: Horizonline Pictures

MESSAGE FROM our EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Person wearing a blue polo shirt and glasses, standing with arms crossed in front of greenery.
Photo: Rachel Harper

A Year of Globally Significant Conservation Victories for Bats and Nature

2024 Fiscal Year Annual Report
(July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024)
As we close the chapter on the 2024 Fiscal Year, we celebrate the milestones reached in our mission to end bat extinctions across the globe. This year, leveraging science and innovative conservation strategies, we pushed the boundaries of what’s possible for bat protection, protecting globally significant sites both here in America and around the world.

This year, we successfully purchased globally significant sites in Jamaica to protect habitat for the Critically Endangered Jamaican flower bat and in Kenya for the Endangered Hildegarde’s tomb bat. These critical conservation victories add to Bat Conservation International (BCI)’s track record of protecting critical sites around the world in places like Mexico, Fiji, and the American Southwest.

We also celebrated a monumental victory in our campaign to protect one of the most critically important habitats in the world for the highly Endangered Florida bonneted bat. Due to our years-long, persistent, and highly effective campaign, the destructive proposed development of the Miami Wilds theme park was decisively halted, and a critical foraging habitat for Florida bonneted bats was protected. Instead of facing imminent extinction due to destructive development, the bats now have new hope for recovery.

Our world-class conservation efforts are supported by our highly expert scientific work. This year, we were honored to be named an Evidence Champion by the Conservation Evidence program at Cambridge University for our use of scientific evidence in our conservation work. Our team published 15 scientific works and launched 28 new BCI-led research projects. These projects focus on everything from studying ways to reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines to developing a cuttingedge biotechnology tool to fight white-nose syndrome. We’re also harnessing environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to learn exactly which agave flowers bats use as they migrate and using drones to learn that 85% of plantings at agave restoration sites delivered by BCI have survived.

We extend our wholehearted thanks to our partners, supporters, and donors throughout the world. Your support has an enormous impact on the health of our shared environment as together we strive to protect the world’s bat species in the places where they need it most, today and tomorrow.

Mike Daulton

MISSION 1

Endangered Species Interventions

Taking innovative approaches to save Endangered species for future generations

Expanding Our Work Around the Globe

  • Our work expanded into four new countries: Brazil, India, Malaysia, and Mozambique
  • We welcomed two new full-time staff members in Brazil and India
Brazilian funnel-eared bats (Natalus macrorus) emerging from Gruta das Fadas cave in Brazil. This is one of the priority caves from the new conservation initiative in the country.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D.

Protecting Vital Habitat in Mexico

In Mexico, Bat Conservation International (BCI) and partners are working to protect bats and vital cave habitat, including a new federally protected area focusing on bats as its conservation target from day one.

224,000

Hectares in a new federally protected area in Mexico

1

Priority roost for Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) in new federally protected area

Prioritizing Roost Protection

10

Priority roosts proposed as Sites of Importance for Bat Conservation (SICOM) in Mexico as part of the Latin America Network for Bat Conservation (RELCOM)

20

Bat species protected under proposal

11,000,000

Bats protected under the proposal

10,000,000

Bats in these three roosts

$20 million per year

Value of ecosystem services provided by these bats

Jamaica

We completed the purchase of a second parcel of land surrounding Stony Hill Cave to help protect the last known maternity roost for the Critically Endangered Jamaican flower bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla). The appointment of the first-ever Bat Officer for Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is a key part of the collaborative efforts between BCI and NEPA.

Hosting India’s First “State of the Bats” Workshop

In June, BCI hosted India’s first “State of the Bats” workshop, bringing together experts to discuss research and conservation of India’s bats and create a working network to continue conservation efforts.

33

Experts who attended India’s first “State of the Bats” workshop

We are collaborating with communities to protect three priority Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) roosts in Northern Mexico and Texas.

Studying the Impacts of Wind Energy and Urbanization on Indian Bats

In India, BCI is working with graduate students to study the impacts of wind energy and urbanization on Indian bats. This is one of the first studies examining the topic, and we are working on identifying strategies to scale these projects up and learn more.

Protecting Habitat for Bats in Malaysia

In partnership with Reef Check Malaysia and Nature Based Solutions, we have supported a series of stakeholder meetings to allow a permanent roost site for ~10,000 large flying foxes (Pteropus vampyrus) on a small island called Pulau Rhu in Terengganu to be legally protected and managed as a state park. This is the country’s first joint protected area that integrates the protection of land and the surrounding marine area into a single management unit.

Launching New Initiative to Protect Colombia’s Bats

54

Species of Colombian bats that the initiative will help protect

330,000

Acres of land protected

50+

Caves protected

38

Multidisciplinary professionals supported

Developing Protocols for Sustainable Guano Harvesting in Mozambique

We are working with scientists from Gorongosa National Park to develop monitoring protocols to understand the impacts of guano harvesting on cave ecosystems and bat populations in Central Mozambique. The first recommendations for sustainable guano harvesting have already been developed, and the information gained from these studies will help fine-tune these recommendations.

A group of four people collaborating at a table with notebooks and markers, engaged in a brainstorming session, with a modern office space in the background.
Brazilian funnel-eared bats (Natalus macrorus) emerging from Gruta das Fadas cave in Brazil. This is one of the priority caves from the new conservation initiative in the country.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D.

Expanding Work in Brazil

  • For the first time, we have a dedicated staff member focusing on projects in Brazil: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D.
  • Our new Brazil efforts focus on protecting and restoring 70 priority caves and surrounding habitat to benefit Endangered bat species on private and public lands.

Discoveries in Brazil

  • We discovered a new-to-science hot cave in Brazil.
  • We discovered the Brazilian funnel-eared bat (Natalus macrourus) in seven additional caves, which we are working to protect.
Jennifer Barros, Ph.D., and Melquisedec Gamba-Rios, Ph.D., at Gruta das Fadas Cave in Brazil. They assessed Endangered bat species and the conservation needs of the cave and surrounding habitats.
Photo: MGambaRios
Close-up of a bat with prominent ears resting on a gloved hand, showcasing its facial features in natural light.
A Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) during GPS tagging to identify priority foraging areas in Miami-Dade County.
Photo: MGambaRios

Developing the Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary Management Plan in Fiji

We worked with Fijian partners to develop the Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary Management Plan so it could be presented to the Fijian Government in August 2024. This will protect the last known maternity roost for the Endangered Fijian free-tailed bat (Mops bregullae).

Guinea

We contributed to a newly compiled national species priority list that assigns list criteria and categories to Guinea’s threatened bat species for a national biodiversity conservation initiative, Biotope’s COMBO+ project.

Victory for Florida Bonneted Bats

BCI and our partners successfully rebuffed a water park development on the most important foraging area for federally Endangered Florida bonneted bats (Eumops floridanus) in Miami through a win in federal court and grassroots advocacy opposing the development. We were backed by a strong foundation of research and a successful conservation initiative to understand and recover Florida bonneted bat populations.

Designating Critical Habitat for Endangered Florida Bonneted Bat

More than 1.1 million acres are now designated as critical habitat in 13 Florida counties following an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They clarified that essential foraging areas are critical habitat in urban areas and are protected under this court ruling, explaining that darkness is essential for bats. Florida bonneted bats, which live only in South Florida, are threatened by habitat loss, development, and climate change.

Kaboga Cave, Kenya

We purchased Kaboga Cave and the surrounding land to protect the Endangered Hildegarde’s tomb bat (Taphozous hildegardeae), which is only known to live in three or four caves. The cave and land were gifted to Kenyan Community Empowerment NGO Angaza Vijiji to manage it. We joined with partners to install camera traps, work on regulating access, and conduct ongoing outreach efforts in the larger community and neighborhood.

“The purchase of Kaboga Cave helped save Taphozous hildegardeae and other sympatric bat species in the cave. In the absence of this conservation effort, private land would be disturbed, modified, destroyed, or even razed. This collaborative effort will help to ensure the long-term survival and persistence of bats and maintain a stable bat population.”
— David Wechuli, Ph.D., Former Project Coordinator for Bat Conservation for Angaza Vijiji Community Organization and Current BCI Kenya Program Manager

Working with Communities in Kenya

We worked with partners to host workshops in Fikirini and Watamu, Kenya, to help the communities develop their own conservation action plans. Two workshops were held in early 2024, resulting in community members formulating an action plan. This plan is now the basis for conservation management and livelihood development in coastal Kenya.

2

Workshops held in early 2024

80

Participants in workshops

5,500

Trees planted at Fikirini

Abstract white circular sonar wave patterns expanding outward on a black background, positioned toward the top-right corner.

Planting Agave for Bats in the U.S. and mexico

We worked across four cities and towns in Arizona, New Mexico, and across West Texas to conduct a community science project monitoring hummingbird feeders for bat environmental DNA (eDNA). We obtained novel detections of the Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) in Arizona. We also continued to plant agaves and conduct public outreach efforts.
“For the past four years, the Gila Native Plant Society (GNPS), a chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico, has been enlisting member volunteers to agree to plant agave on their acreage. … This collaboration has resulted in the planting of hundreds of agave plants in support of the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae). Since the land is owned by our members, they see it as their responsibility in monitoring ‘their’ agaves, protecting ‘their bats,’ and watering the agaves when dry.… Not only will the bats benefit, but our members benefit as well, in that they are now guardians of this special natural relationship between agaves and nectar-feeding bats.”
— Don and Wendy Graves, Co-Presidents, Native Plant Society of New Mexico
143

eDNA samples collected

3

States where we planted native agaves in foraging areas and migratory corridors for nectar-feeding bats (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)

200

Agaves planted on abandoned mine lands under rehabilitation

50

Native and salvaged agaves planted in Alpine, Texas, public outreach garden

5

Outreach events focusing on bats, agaves, and BCI’s restoration work

214

Total participants in outreach events

Rows of potted plants inside a greenhouse, marked with orange flags, indicating an organized botanical study or nursery.
Native agaves being grown in the Sul Ross greenhouse.
Photo: Rachel Burke
BCI’s Autumn Cool with Lindsey Bredemeyer during a public outreach agave garden planting with BCI, Sul Ross State University, and the City of Alpine.
Photo: Rachel Burke
“Every single data point I can provide expands our understanding, and every single individual I can inform is a potential new ally.”
— Lindsey Bredemeyer,
Texas Master Naturalist Tierra Grande
Stylized teal illustration of a plant with long, pointed leaves and a tall flower stalk, resembling an agave or similar species.
A woman presenting to a group of four others in a room with archival materials and herbarium sheets laid out on a table.
NW Mexico collaborators looking at the collection of Sonora native agaves in the University of Sonora Herbarium.
Photo: Valeria Cañedo/CENKO
A seated woman reading a colorful educational booklet about bats during an indoor community event.
Developing local capacity for environmental education at Mojonera and surrounding communities.
Photo: Ruben Galicia
Collecting agave seeds in a Mexican ejido.
Photo: Jose Juan Flores/ESHAC

Protecting Mexican Agaves for Bats

We collaborated to host a summit bringing together people who are working with agave, as well as focusing on community-based projects.

52

Participants in Northwestern Mexico Agave Summit

21

Organizations represented at the summit

24

New community-based projects as part of Sahuaripa River watershed restoration

A young boy in a red cap and navy hoodie watering rows of seedlings inside a greenhouse with a plastic hose.
Third-generation community members supporting production of local agaves for restoration in NE Mexico.
Photo: Ana Ibarra/BCI
A group of people, including children, working together outdoors to plant seeds in trays, preparing soil and handling seed packets under bright sunlight.
People seeding the production of agaves and other native plants to support conservation and community livelihoods.
Photo: Jose Juan Flores/ESHAC

Partnering with Communities to Support Agave Restoration in Mexico

We partner with communities to cultivate nurseries and support community members in states across Mexico to grow plants to maturity and plant them in restoration efforts. Here are some statistics that showcase our impact.

San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas

5

Community nurseries we supported in San Luis Potosí and Zacatecas

7,500

Native agaves and medicinal plants grown

Nuevo León and Coahuila

150,000

Total agaves being raised in nurseries that will eventually be planted

7

Agave restoration sites local partner Especies, Sociedad y Hábitat A.C (ESHAC) surveyed by drone

85%

Survival rate of agaves on these sites

Stylized teal silhouette of a bat with wings fully extended, showcasing detailed wing membrane structure.

Northern Coahuila and Chihuahua

We are working with NGO Rio Bravo Restoration to expand our work to northern Coahuila and Chihuahua, which are likely migratory corridors for the Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis). We will plant 1,000 agaves and assist with environmental DNA surveys to identify foraging areas and migratory corridors for the species.

We expanded community conservation and restoration work to four additional communities in these areas. We are also supporting Rio Bravo Restoration’s work to provide restoration ranching seminars for four ejidos (communally owned and managed lands).

Nuevo León and Coahuila

2,500

Hectares of community land in southern Nuevo León being managed to improve soil and water retention and quality

5,000

Agaves planted from community nurseries

12,600

Agaves planted from transplanted hijos (agave offshoots)

La Mojonera Protected Area

80

Hectares restored in ejidos in La Mojonera Protected Area

15,000+

Agaves, prickly pear, and medicinal plants planted there

180

Community members (from 9 communities) who participated in restoration, nursery management, and capacity-building workshops

A group of seven people posing together on a dirt path with lush green hills in the background, two of them kneeling and holding a "BCI" flag.
BCI and PRONATURA NE staff exploring La Boca, a priority roost for bat conservation in NE Mexico.
Photo: Diana González
A group of people seated around tables, listening to a man holding a large sheet of paper with handwritten notes during a workshop in an outdoor corridor.
Workshop on sustainable practices for mezcal production led by Diana Pinzon (Fondo Agavero) in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Photo: Ana Ibarra, Ph.D.
“Our collaboration with BCI has allowed us to begin a valuable journey of understanding the situation of the agaves and the mezcal bats throughout Mexico. It is like feeling that we are participating in a part of this mutualistic evolution that has already lasted 10 million years. In a country as biodiverse as Mexico, these collaborations magnify the scope of the actions that we can take to protect and conserve bats, agaves, and mezcal communities in the country. Conservation is definitely collaborative, or otherwise, it is impossible to achieve.”
— Diana Carolina Pinzon, Co-Founder,
Fondo Agavero Mexico
A community event under a tent where children and adults engage with educational materials about bats, including virtual reality and interactive displays.
Workshop on sustainable practices for mezcal production led by Diana Pinzon (Fondo Agavero) in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Photo: Ana Ibarra, Ph.D.
Two presenters on an outdoor stage demonstrating bat puppets, each holding a puppet with outstretched wings in front of a large "Bat Fest 2023" backdrop.
Three people posing in front of a vibrant "Bat Fest 2023" display featuring a cartoon bat and desert-themed artwork under nighttime lighting.
People enjoying Bat Fest Monterrey.
Photos: BATTUS
1,000+

Participants (in person and virtual) in Bat Fest Monterrey

4

Schools where the “Bat Friends Forever” (BFF) program was implemented

179

Students engaged with BFF

12

Teachers trained on BFF

10

Nuevo León community educational events held

560

Participants in these events

1

New educational program launched by local partner Bioconciencia

2

New communications materials to share BCI’s Agave Restoration Initiative

Supporting Local Economies

4

New community business projects launched by local partner ESHAC (including two agroforestry projects, dairy expansion, and ecotourism)

150

People these projects benefit

12

Women in women-owned businesses supported

22

Cattle producers working with BCI-hired community business consultant to convert production practices to organic (from 11 communities from La Mojonera Protected Area)

27,905

Hectares benefited by transition to organic production

10

Cattle producers benefiting from new livestock water management system installed to restore degraded rangelands

2

Women’s groups participating in BCI-hosted cross-regional women’s Exchange of Experience

Two individuals working outdoors in a dry, desert-like environment, using tools to plant or survey near cacti and sparse vegetation.
BCI’s Rachel Burke and Eric Loeffelholz plant agaves at an abandoned mine reclamation site.
Photo: Brianna Mann

Mission 2

Protect and Restore Landscapes

creating strategies for safeguarding ecosystems and revitalizing natural habitats

Teaming Up to Restore Agave Habitat in Texas

In Alpine, Texas, we are teaming up with Sul Ross State University to restore native agave habitat for the Endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis). This partnership establishes restoration efforts in Texas’ Trans-Pecos region to support the Mexican long-nosed bat colony that utilizes Emory Cave in Big Bend National Park, a historic roost where mother bats raise their young.

Restoring Watersheds and Streams After Devastating Wildfire

Aerial view of a large wildfire with thick smoke rising over rugged terrain and hills.
Aerial view of the Black Fire in the Gila National Forest that burned 325,000 acres in June 2022. Photo: Public domain photo via the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.
After the Black Fire burned 325,000 acres within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, we teamed up with the U.S. Forest Service and other partners to plan and implement watershed restoration work in the Gila National Forest for the estimated 21 bat species and other wildlife that live in the area. Under the five-year agreement, we will provide comprehensive watershed planning, environmental and cultural compliance, and on-the-ground restoration of streams, wetlands, and isolated water sources, which are vital for bat species in the Southwestern U.S.

Our Restoration Team has already completed two miles of stream restoration in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, helping jump-start recovery and providing critical water and foraging resources.

325,000
Acres burned in Black Fire
21
(Estimated) bat species in affected area
2
Stream miles restored
Rainbows rise over the mine-riddled landscape of the Prescott National Forest (Arizona) during a storm. Photo: Josh Hydeman
Person in a cave collecting samples, wearing a white helmet with a headlamp.
Subterranean Specialist Corrie Harrison collects guano in a mine on the Coronado National Forest (Arizona) that was later analyzed by the Bat Ecology & Genetics Lab at Northern Arizona University and identified as cave myotis (Myotis velifer). Photo: Logan Miller

Protecting Bats and People at Abandoned Mines

We continue to partner with federal and state land managers across multiple states and districts to identify and protect abandoned mines serving as habitat for bats and other wildlife while providing safeguards for public health. Under many agreements, we also conduct and coordinate additional phases of project work, including cultural surveys, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation, and bat-compatible gate construction.

We are pursuing this work through national agreements with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with projects across the western U.S., and with the Department of Energy’s Defense-Related Uranium Mines (DRUM) program, which involves a significant amount of work in the Four Corners region. We also continue to work under multi-year agreements with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Region 3 (Arizona/New Mexico) and the Department of Defense (DOD) at White Sands Missile Range (New Mexico). Additionally, we entered into new major partnerships with other federal agencies last year.

Our team has the knowledge, expertise, and experience to safely survey abandoned mines to conduct these habitat assessments, which is why federal land managers partner with us through these agreements.

1,500
Biological surveys conducted at abandoned mines
“Working with BCI to implement bat-friendly closures on abandoned mines preserves important habitat inside the mines for continued use by bats and other wildlife and prevents humans from entering these hazardous locations.”
— Land Management Partner

Strengthening Partnerships with New Multi-Year Agency Agreements

Our Subterranean Team signed two new multi-year agreements with the National Park Service to support abandoned mine habitat surveys and mapping at Death Valley National Park and Mojave National Preserve in Southern California. These new agreements build on our past projects at these NPS units.

Last year, we also entered into a new partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus on abandoned mine bat habitat projects at several National Wildlife Refuges. We completed projects at San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in California and Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. Additional projects are underway at three National Wildlife Refuges in Arizona—Buenos Aires, Cabeza Prieta, and Kofa—as well as Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada and Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge in Washington.

These agreements focus on identifying and safeguarding abandoned mines on public lands. Our role is to determine bat and wildlife use and overall wildlife habitat quality to inform the protection of that habitat through bat-compatible gates (instead of destructive closures that seal the openings entirely).

A bat in flight with large ears and outstretched wings against a transparent background.
A Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) in flight. Photo: J. Scott Altenbach
“Since establishing a partnership with BCI in 2020, they have contributed to over 800 safeguards in four states for the DRUM Program for the Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management (DOE-LM). This number is a true testament to BCI’s mission of surveying and safeguarding abandoned uranium mines that provide for protected habitat for bats. DOE-LM plans to continue partnership with BCI to keep the momentum going and to see what additional positive impacts we can make for both wildlife and human health.”
— Paige Schwarz, DRUM Safeguarding Program Manager and Project Manager, Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management
A person in a helmet and outdoor gear sits in a cave, looking up at bats on the ceiling.
BCI partner Ted Weller (U.S. Forest Service) counts a cluster of hibernating Townsend’s big-eared bats during a hibernacula survey at Lava Beds National Monument (California). Photo: Shawn Thomas
Two bats flying against a black background.

MISSION 3

High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions

driving innovation to get ahead of future challenges

Strengthening Capacity through MENTOR-Bat

The MENTOR-Bat program, a collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Bat Conservation International (BCI), focuses on strengthening the capacity to promote the sustainable coexistence between bats and people through training and supporting early-career professionals from Cameroon, Colombia, and Indonesia. Nine fellows and three mentors are participating in the program, and the first of three in-person workshops were held earlier this year. MENTOR-Bat participants learn online and in-person curriculum focusing on Bats and One Health, with themes that include bat conservation, One Health, human dimensions of conservation, outreach and communications, conservation standards, and conservation leadership.
“MENTOR-Bat is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with BCI. Through this program, we are gaining the knowledge and skills to address threats and apply One Health initiatives to protect bats and their ecosystems.”
— Sigit Wiantoro, Ph.D., MENTOR-Bat Mentor, Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, National Research and Innovation Agency – Indonesia
Carollia perspicillata (with a pup) and Natalus macrourus in Brazil.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D.
A group of people walking through a lush plantation, with a woman in a teal hijab making a peace sign in the foreground.
MENTOR-Bat participants Ellena Yusti, Fauzan Rizky, and Gabriela Peña (foreground) during a visit to a coffee farm as part of the Colombia workshop. Photo: Emily Ronis
“Through MENTOR-Bat, USFWS International Affairs and BCI are collaboratively applying a new transdisciplinary approach to bat conservation by developing a team of emerging conservationists from Cameroon, Colombia, and Indonesia with skills in veterinary science, virology, public health, caves and culture, and bat research. This new capacity for bat conservation creatively addresses threats, implements One Health solutions for the well-being of humans, bats, and habitats, and delivers measurable conservation results.”
— Daphne Carlson, DVM, Ph.D., Head, Division of International Conservation, USFWS
Three people indoors with headlamps, one reading a book, another using a phone, and the third examining an object in gloves.
MENTOR-Bat participants Daisy Gomez, Maria Suhatri, and Sigit Wiantoro identifying a bat during the Colombia workshop. Photo: Emily Ronis
“My collaboration with BCI is a real boost for bat conservation in Cameroon. In fact, this collaboration provides me with the necessary means to reach populations in their environment and make them understand the need to conserve bats.”
— Patrick Jules Atagana, Ph.D., MENTOR-Bat Mentor, University of Ngaoundere, Cameroon
MENTOR-Bat participants Ana Maria Sanchez, Juliana Herrera, Gabriela Peña, and Daisy Gomez working on the theory of change for their pilot project during the Indonesia workshop. Photo: Luz A de Wit, Ph.D.
Four women engaged in discussion at a wooden table with a laptop and notebooks.
MENTOR-Bat participants Ana Maria Sanchez, Juliana Herrera, Gabriela Peña, and Daisy Gomez working on the theory of change for their pilot project during the Indonesia workshop. Photo: Luz A de Wit, Ph.D.
Line drawing of a plant with elongated, textured leaves in blue on a white background.

Exploring Innovations in Wind Energy

We launched four new research projects focusing on reducing bat fatalities at wind facilities and understanding the risks bats face from offshore wind projects. These projects include more than $7 million for research to support bat conservation.

One project, “Reducing Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines Using Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems as a Passive Deterrent,” received a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office (DOE WETO). Turbine lighting may attract migrating bats, but it is necessary to alert aircraft to obstructions at night.

The project tests whether aircraft detection lighting systems (ADLS) can be used to minimize bat fatalities at wind farms by only turning on the lighting systems when aircraft are in the vicinity. Other projects focus on designing effective acoustic deterrents to keep bats away from wind farms and evaluating how successful ultraviolet deterrents are by utilizing 3D monitoring of bat behavior.

Sparking a Global Response to Wind Energy

Our Chief Scientist Winifred Frick, Ph.D., Bats and Wind Program Director Michael Whitby, and colleagues from around the world published a study in the journal BioScience focusing on the urgently needed global response to the bat fatalities caused by wind turbines. Calling attention to this issue can lead to increased investment in research and policies to avoid bat fatalities while supporting clean energy that reduces our use of fossil fuels.
Four people in safety gear walk across a grassy field with wind turbines in the background.
A team conducts a systematic search for dead bats under a wind turbine in an agricultural field. Photo: Donald Solick
Rooftops with solar panels under a clear blue sky with overlayed concentric circles.
A bat detector sits on the roof of a home ready to collect data for Backyard Bats. Photo: Adam Hevey

Collecting Data for the North American Bat Monitoring Program

We are one of the top 10 organizations contributing the most data to the North American Bat Monitoring Program this year. We supported more than 175 projects to provide data, which are used to help determine the status and trends of bat populations across North America. We also completed pilot projects in California and Arizona that engage the public to collect acoustic bat recordings.

During Summer Solstice, more than 100 volunteers contributed data, representing more than a dozen partner organizations in four states.

175
Data collection projects supported

Summer Solstice North American Bat Monitoring Program

100+
Volunteers
12+
Organizations participating
4
States represented
Two individuals with safety gear work on a laptop in an industrial setting.
BCI’s Director of Bats and Wind Energy Michael Whitby and Field Specialist Nicholas Boulanger download acoustic data from an automated recording unit that detects bat activity around the nacelle of a wind turbine. Photo: Donald Solick

Advancing Scalable Solutions to Fight White-Nose Syndrome

We advanced scalable solutions to protect bat populations from the devastating disease white-nose syndrome (WNS). We supported a team at Oregon State University to complete lab-based testing of a cutting-edge biotechnology tool, RNA interference (RNAi), that can be used to safely kill the fungus that causes WNS, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). Our team demonstrated that applying RNAi can kill the fungus with negligible harm to other biota. This innovative treatment is the first of its kind that can be used in natural environments without the concern of harming other organisms that live in the caves where Pd is found.
Two people exploring a cave with headlamps and protective gear.
BCI team members examine a cave in Texas to look for any signs of white-nose syndrome. Photo: Krystie Miner
Two people in protective gear inside a cave, with a ladder and rugged rocky surfaces.
BCI team members assess a Texas cave for signs of white-nose syndrome. Photo: Krystie Miner
“We collaborated with BCI to evaluate a novel method that inhibits the growth of Pd and potentially renders the fungus non-viable. Our application, based on double-stranded RNA, is non-toxic, biodegradable, and designed to be highly specific with no impact on bats and other non-target organisms.”
— Jenny Urbina, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University
Silhouette of a teal-colored flock of birds on a white background.

Installing a Motus Tower to Collect Migratory Wildlife Data

Bracken Cave Preserve is located in the Texas Hill Country. We installed a Motus automated radio tracking tower in this key location to collect migratory bird and bat data.

Awarded Evidence Champion Status for Extensive Research

The Conservation Evidence program at Cambridge University recognized us as an Evidence Champion for our commitment to evidence-based conservation. We use scientific research to inform bat conservation, and we share our results through publications that can amplify the impact of our research, resulting in the protection of more bats around the world.

Publications (Fiscal Year 2024)

15
Total number of scientific publications produced
12
Scientific papers published
2
Book sections published
1
Full book published

Research Projects (Fiscal Year 2024)

28
New BCI-led research projects launched
14
BCI-led research projects completed
28
Ongoing BCI-led research projects
Person using a parabolic microphone in a forested area.
Jose Ladino Moreno, 2024 BCI Student Scholar, doing fieldwork in Argentina. Photo: Jose Ladino Moreno

Providing Scholarships to Bat Conservationists

Our 2024 Cohort of 16 new BCI Student Scholars represents 11 countries. The graduate students will conduct bat research in Argentina, Brazil, Cameroon, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, and Peru. We also hosted the first Virtual Student Scholars Conference to support peer-to-peer networking and professional development of our BCI scholar community. Since the 1980s, our Student Scholar Program has supported 379 scholars conducting research in 77 countries.
“My collaboration with BCI has been nothing short of fantastic. BCI is not just an organization committed to bat conservation worldwide but also a community and a learning platform. I’ve gained so much knowledge from our meetings and interactions. The impact of this collaboration has been immense. Through the fieldwork I’ve conducted with BCI’s support, I’ve had the opportunity to educate many people about the crucial role bats play in our ecosystem and the dire consequences their extinction could bring. Thanks to BCI, we conducted two months of field research that shed light on the devastating effects of waste fumes on forests and their ecosystems.”
— Omar Machich, 2024 BCI Student Scholar, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco
379
Student scholars supported since the 1980s
16
Graduate students in 2024 Student Scholar cohort
77
Countries where research has been supported since the program began

MISSION 3

Inspire Through Experience
Two boys sitting on a bench watching bats fly out of a cave.
Visitors enjoying Bracken Cave.
Photos: Jonathan Alonzo

transforming insights into meaningful impact

Educating People About Bracken Cave’s 20 Million Bats

Located near San Antonio, Texas, Bracken Cave holds the Guinness World Record for having the world’s largest known colony of bats. Approximately 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) live in the cave during the maternity season.

This fiscal year, we:

  • Established a live camera feed at Bracken Cave, allowing people to enjoy the bats from afar. See more at batcon.org/experience-bats/the-bat-channel
  • Updated and replaced educational signage
  • Developed a K-12 bat education program
  • Hosted 193 Bat Flight events for 8,002 visitors

Establishing 10 New Partnerships in San Antonio

We established 10 new partnerships in San Antonio that focus on helping people and bats. We have engaged over 1,000 people in these partnership efforts.
10
New partners in San Antonio
1,000+
People engaged through partnership events
A woman using a shovel to plant in a garden next to a wooden and chain-link fence, with potted plants nearby.
A volunteer helps tend to plants at a bat garden workday at Bonham Academy in San Antonio. Photo: Erin Cord
Children seated on a floor watching a presentation in a classroom with two women at the front.
Testing out a new bat curriculum lesson with Girlstart. Photo: Erin Cord
A diverse group of eleven people standing on a rocky landscape with vegetation in the background.
Austin Youth River Watch participants take a field trip to Bracken Cave. Photo: Erin Cord

Supporting the Creation of a bat garden as part of the Tamōx Talōm Food Forest

Tamōx Talōm means “fire spirit” in Pajalate, a language of the Coahuiltecans, who populated the present-day area of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico hundreds of years ago. We supported the creation of a bat garden as part of the Tamōx Talōm food forest, a community initiative established in 2021 by the Food Policy Council. The food forest includes more than 100 fruit and nut trees and aims to reclaim Indigenous agricultural lands and teach visitors about Indigenous agricultural practices in the region. The bat garden section is now a part of the larger food forest and includes plants that support the nighttime pollinators that bats eat.
“Our collaborations have been instrumental in raising awareness about bats and their importance within our community.”
— Sara Ramirez, San Antonio River Foundation

Supporting 20+ Community Gardens

We helped support more than 20 community gardens in partnership with the Greenspaces Alliance of South Texas. We supported the creation of bat gardens at two San Antonio schools, including Bonham Academy and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. More than 180 native plants were established through these efforts. We also hosted a bat gardening webinar focusing on creating native plant spaces within existing gardens.
“Thank you, BCI, for your continued support at Bonham Academy. Our growing micro-habitat gardens increasingly provide habitat for inner city pollinators, birds, and bats. We truly appreciate everything you do!”
— Jason Siptak, Bonham Academy Science Department
20+
Community gardens supported
180
Native plants established

Proudly Promoting LGBTQ2IA+ Inclusion

We are proud to partner with Fiesta Youth (an LGBTQ2IA+ youth support organization) to help make the outdoors as inclusive as possible. Together, we brought 70 kids and young adults to Bracken Cave, where they could experience the wonder of the “batnado” and hopefully be inspired by this amazing phenomenon.
A person writing on paper surrounded by laptops and documents on a table.
Kids from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy testing out our new Bat Curriculum lessons. Photos: Joy Tuxhorn
Student holding a paper craft of a bat.

Updating and Refreshing “Discover Bats” Curriculum

We obtained a grant to hire curriculum designers to update and refresh our Discover Bats curriculum. Our team created 17 new lessons for kids in grades four through eight. The Young Women’s Leadership Academy in San Antonio partnered with us to test the lessons, and we received feedback from teachers and students that was used to improve the lessons. This project was funded by IF/THEN®, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

Training 100+ New Bat Ambassadors

Working with 11 new partner organizations, we trained more than 100 new Bat Ambassadors from six different states. To do this, we facilitated eight new Bat Walks training classes online.

100+

New Bat Ambassadors

6

Number of states Bat Ambassadors live in

11

New Bat Walks partner organizations

8

New Bat Walks training classes online

The Bat Ambassador program helped unify conservation efforts in College Station, Texas. Laurie L. Brown, Recreation Supervisor at the Gary Halter Nature Center, Lick Creek Park and Southwood Community Center took the Bat Ambassador training in 2019 before starting the Night Hike Program at Cibolo Nature Center. She wanted to bring the program to the center she currently supervises, so she arranged with Bat Conservation International (BCI) to offer Bat Ambassador training to new staff and volunteers.
25

Number of staff and volunteers taking Bat Ambassador training in College Station, Texas

800+

Nighttime park guests participating in programs

Launching Backyard Bat Survey Pilot

We launched two successful regional Community Science Pilots to test the feasibility and interest in community science bat monitoring. We researched the scalability of this program for acoustic bat detection and community engagement.

“Our partnership with BCI has highlighted the importance of the bat conservation of rare species, including the tri-colored bat, which calls our area home.”
— Laurie L. Brown, Recreation Supervisor at the Gary Halter Nature Center, Lick Creek Park and Southwood Community Center in College Station, Texas
100

Volunteers contributed data to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) during Summer Solstice

4

States’ volunteers represented

12

Partner organizations involved

44,735

Bat calls recorded during one of the pilots

22

Bat species identified out of the 44,735 calls

Four people gardening in matching "SAMSUNG GIVES" t-shirts.
Volunteers from Samsung helping us install a bat garden at Girlstart in Austin. Photo: Erin Cord

Establishing a Pilot Program for Bat Garden Seed Packets

In partnership with Native American Seed, we developed seed packets specially created for bat gardens. We ordered 1,000 seed packets as a trial run.

1,000

Bat garden seed packets ordered

People planting in an outdoor garden with raised beds and drip irrigation.
Participants help install a bat garden at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy.
Photo: Joy Tuxhorn
Packet labeled "Bat Garden Wildflower Mix" with floral and bat illustrations.
quote mark

Our partnership with BCI to create a custom, bat-focused seed mix and promotional packets will not only create habitat and food sources for our native bats, but it will also invite newcomers to get personally involved in bat habitat conservation. Helping people restore the Earth is what we are called to do. We are glad to align that mission with other hard-working organizations doing the same.”

— Michelle Gorham, Native American Seed
Abstract white circular sonar wave patterns expanding outward on a black background, positioned toward the top-right corner.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We continue to build our competencies in Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Teal world map
In FY24, we advanced our efforts to embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) as a core ethos in both our global approach to bat conservation and managing the organization. To achieve this, we are continuously growing our JEDI competencies and applying them across our work.

Highlights from Fiscal Year 2024

Our 2024 efforts focused on increasing our organizational capabilities and equipping our teams to embed JEDI throughout our work.
A group of diverse people holding tree saplings in a natural outdoor setting.
BCI staff, local partners, and community volunteers came together for a tree planting event at the Three Sisters Caves in Fikirini on the coast of Kenya. Dedicated community volunteers have been trained in tree nursery cultivation and in proper planting techniques as part of a larger reforestation project around the cave site that will benefit the bats and the people of Fikirini. Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Incorporating JEDI Through Our Programming

  • We continued investing in learning opportunities that examine global sustainability through equitable lenses, attending events like the Social Capital (SOCAP) conference and the Essentials of Social Science in Conservation course hosted by Human Nature. We researched various approaches to incorporate more inclusive strategies across our portfolio.
  • We created a Global Sustainability Community of Practice, which explores how bat conservation aligns with global sustainability goals and expands our focus beyond biodiversity to include inclusive approaches that will influence research, analysis, and future inclusive conservation standards.

Embedding JEDI in Our Operating Practices

  • We further enhanced our hiring processes by expanding outreach to more diverse job boards and seeking talent from a broader and more diverse talent pool. Additionally, we clarified various JEDI considerations within our recruiting  process and included more resources and information for hiring managers to continue fostering an inclusive, equitable, and humanistic hiring experience for both candidates and hiring teams.
  • We refined our organizational policies to reflect the diversity of our teams through policies, including promoting flexible work schedules and benefits like paid family and medical leave to support a healthy and inclusive workplace.

Strengthening a Culture of Learning

  • We continued our Empathy Coaching series with Syah B. Consulting, launching new staff cohorts, exploring bias, fostering connection, and building resilience. Since launching this partnership, 27 staff have completed the series, with more cohorts planned for the future.
  • We rolled out a new Learning Management System (LMS) offering compliance and management training with a strong emphasis on JEDI principles. All managers attended training designed to equip them to lead effectively and support a diverse workforce.

Financial Summary

Statement of
Financial Position

As of June 30, 2024
 
As of 06/30/2024
As of 06/30/2023
Assets
Current Assets
Cash & Cash Equivalents
$3,082,698
$3,496,014
Accounts Receivable
$1,258,045
$1,061,400
Prepaid Expenses
$192,786
$147,721
Total Current Assets
$4,533,529
$4,705,135
Property & Equipment, Net
$7,019,881
$6,909,526
Investments
$25,216,968
$25,131,535
Total Assets
$36,770,378
$36,746,196
Liabilities & Net Assets
Current Liabilities
$1,235,410
$1,060,444
Total Liabilities
$1,235,410
$1,060,444
Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions
$8,841,298
$7,779,208
Net Assets With Donor Restrictions
$26,693,670
$27,906,544
Total Net Assets
$35,534,968
$35,685,752
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$36,770,378
$36,746,196

Statement of
Activities

Year Ended June 30, 2024
 
Without Donor Restrictions
With Donor Restrictions
Total
REVENUES
Contributions
$2,907,574
$2,068,363
$4,975,937
Grants & Contracts
$7,599,711
—
$7,599,711
Corporate Contracts
$195,291
—
$195,291
Miscellaneous Income
$170,272
—
$170,272
Investment Return, Net
$816,366
$1,854,303
$2,670,669
Total Revenues
$11,689,214
$3,992,666
$15,611,880
Assets Released from Restrictions
$5,135,540
$(5,135,540)
—
Total Revenues & Assets Released from Restrictions
$16,824,754
$(1,212,874)
$15,611,880
Expenses
Program Expenses
Science and Conservation Programs
$13,129,300
—
$13,129,300
Education Programs
$905,082
—
$905,082
Total Program Services
$14,034,382
—
$14,034,382
Support Services
Fundraising and Development
$1,017,309
—
$1,017,309
General and Administrative
$710,972
—
$710,972
Total Support Services
$1,728,281
—
$1,728,281
Total Expenses
$15,762,663
—
$15,762,663
Change in Net Assets
$1,062,091
$(1,212,874)
$(150,783)
Net Assets, Beginning of Year
$7,779,206
$27,906,544
$35,685,750
Net Assets, End of Year
$8,841,297
$26,693,670
$35,534,967

Your
donations
At Work

5 percent
General and Administrative
6 percent
Fundraising and Development
89 percent
Programs
Donation circle graph

DONOR PROFILES

Underdog Pollinator Inspires a Decade of Support

Member passionate about bats
Shelly Mains’ interest in bat conservation began with a simple book recommendation from a friend who practiced beekeeping. The book, The Forgotten Pollinators, highlighted the critical, yet often overlooked, role bats play in pollination, which is an essential ecological process that is often associated with bees and butterflies. Shelly had never considered bats’ contribution to this vital ecological process until that day. But that simple moment of learning sparked a deep interest that would grow into a decade-long relationship with Bat Conservation International (BCI).

One evening, as Shelly sat in her Boston backyard, the dusk sky came alive with bats gracefully darting overhead. Their presence felt almost magical, and Shelly was captivated. Around the same time, her daughter had taken an interest in bats during an elementary school unit, with a special fascination for the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae). This family moment, combining a backyard encounter and her daughter’s enthusiasm, solidified Shelly’s fascination with these “underdog pollinators.” It also opened her eyes to how vital bats are to ecosystems worldwide, from pollinating plants to controlling insect populations.

A trip to Austin, Texas, 10 years ago brought Shelly face-to-face with BCI’s work. While visiting, she learned about our efforts to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable bat species. Inspired by the idea that she could play a role in helping bats, Shelly became a BCI member. “I’m so glad BCI is protecting these amazing animals,” she says, with a decade of loyal support behind her.

Shelly’s story highlights the importance of BCI membership. Becoming a member is more than just making a donation. Rather, it’s a commitment to the future of bats and the ecosystems that depend on them. Members like Shelly are essential to our growth and ability to expand conservation efforts. Member contributions provide the resources needed for everything from protecting critical habitats like Bracken Cave to funding groundbreaking research on threats like white-nose syndrome, to launching new conservation efforts in locations where bats are in imminent danger.

Through the steady support of members, BCI continues to increase its global impact. Shelly’s decade-long journey from learning about bats in a book to becoming a passionate advocate and donor mirrors the path many members take. Every membership not only helps save bats but also empowers BCI to broaden our impact around the world and preserve bat species for generations to come.

As we continue to grow in our mission to conserve bats and their habitats, the enduring commitment of members like Shelly makes the difference. Together, we are creating a legacy of support for these under-appreciated animals and ensuring bats have a bright future in the world’s ecosystems.

Shared Impact through Values-Driven Partnerships

Teaming up with businesses to protect bats
A bat in flight near a cluster of yellow flowers against a black background.
The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) was featured in the Lush campaign.
Photo: J. Scott Altenbach/BCI
Partnerships with like-minded businesses are essential to advancing our mission, and our collaboration with Lush Cosmetics exemplifies the power of shared values.

Known for its fresh handmade cosmetics, Lush is committed to ethical practices, which resonate deeply with our conservation goals. Just as we work tirelessly to protect bats and their habitats, their dedication to sustainable business goes beyond just their products. Lush actively campaigns for human rights, environmental protection, and animal welfare, using its global platform to drive meaningful change.

Lush chose to partner with Bat Conservation International (BCI) to support the important role bats play in ecosystems. On Friday, October 13, 2023, Lush Cosmetics donated 100% of the purchase price from that day’s sales of Bat Art Bath Bombs across 260 stores and online in the United States and Canada to support BCI’s work worldwide.

Business partnerships such as the one between BCI and Lush demonstrate how values-driven collaborations can make a tangible difference for bats and the ecosystems that depend on them. Together, we can amplify our impact and inspire even more people to join the cause.

“BCI was a logical partner because of its respected and wide-ranging projects, including ensuring bats can continue to pollinate key plants like agave. Both staff and customers had a great time with the collaboration, and we’re grateful for all the important work of BCI.”
— Carleen Pickard, Advocacy & Activism Manager, Lush Cosmetics, North America
People watch bats emerge from Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, at dusk. Photo: Amanda Stronza
A large flock of bats flying above a crowded bridge at sunset.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SUPPORTERS

We extend our gratitude to the partners worldwide who supported our bat conservation efforts from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

  • Foundation

    Adele M. Thomas Charitable Foundation, Inc.

  • The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation
  • BAND Foundation
  • The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
  • The Batchelor Foundation, Inc.
  • The Berglund Family Foundation
  • The Boston Foundation
  • The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston
  • Biophilia Foundation
  • Burt Family Foundation
  • Carroll Petrie Foundation
  • The Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation
  • The Darrell & Patricia Steagall Family Foundation
  • East Bay Community Foundation
  • Edward Gorey Charitable Trust
  • Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida
  • The Frank Cross Foundation
  • Head and Heart Foundation
  • Hollomon Price Foundation
  • The Hulebak-Rodricks Foundation
  • The Klungness Family Foundation Inc.
  • The Lawrence and Sylvia Wong Foundation, Inc.
  • Leo Model Foundation, Inc.
  • Lyda Hill Philanthropies
  • Mary W. Harriman Foundation
  • The Negaunee Foundation
  • The Peter A. and Elizabeth S. Cohn Foundation Inc.
  • Pledgeling Foundation
  • Read Foundation
  • RLH Foundation
  • Robert McLean Foundation Trust
  • Schwab Charitable Fund
  • Shared Earth Foundation
  • Singing Field Foundation
  • The Thomas C. and Mary Ann Hays Family Charitable Trust
  • The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation
  • Walter C. Emery Family Foundation
  • Western Colorado Community Foundation
  • The White Pine Fund
  • William Howard Flowers, Jr. Foundation, Inc.

  • Corporate

    Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

  • Discovery Education
  • Disney Conservation Fund
  • DocuSign
  • Facebook
  • Google Matching Gifts Program
  • H-E-B
  • Leaf Shave
  • The LEGO Group
  • Lennar Homes LLC
  • Lush Cosmetics
  • Pattern Energy
  • PayPal
  • Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.

  • Government and organization

    African Parks

  • Alliance for Americas Fish and Wildlife
  • Alterd Alternativas para el Desarrollo, A.C.
  • Amigos de la Sierra, A.C.
  • Anacostia Watershed Society
  • Angelo State University
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department
  • Asesores en Planeación de Sistemas Socioambientales, S.C.
  • Asociación de Mujeres del Bacanora y Maguey de México
  • Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
  • Austin Bat Refuge
  • Austin Creative Reuse
  • Austin Youth River Watch
  • Bacanora Siete Coronados
  • Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative
  • Bats Northwest
  • Battus
  • Bioconciencia A.C.
  • Bisbee Bloomers
  • Bonham Academy
  • Bonnet House
  • Borderlands Restoration Network
  • Broward County Parks and Recreation
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Carlton Fields
  • Center for Biological Diversity
  • Centro de Colaboración para la Ciencia y Cultura
  • CIIDIR Unidad Durango, Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  • City of Bisbee, Arizona
  • City of College Station, TX
  • Colectivo Caminantes del Desierto, A.C.
  • Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety Inactive Mines Reclamation Program
  • Colectivo Sonora Silvestre
  • Colorado State University
  • Comisión Estatal de Biodiversidad (Hidalgo)
  • Comisión Estatal de Biodiversidad (Morelos)
  • Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas
  • Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Región Centro y Eje Neovolcánico
  • Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Región Noreste (CONANP)
  • Comunidad Santo Domingo Ocotitlán (Morelos)
  • Consejo Sonorense Regulador del Bacanora
  • Conservation Evidence
  • Conservation Metrics
  • Consultoría, Asesoría y Manejo Estratégico, S.C.
  • Cuantico – Global Eco Services
  • Cuena Los Ojos
  • Dahari
  • Dallas Zoological Society
  • Detroit Zoological Society
  • EarthShare
  • EarthShare Texas
  • Ecosystem Restoration Alliance
  • Ejido 20 de Noviembre, Coahuila
  • Ejido Coyotillos, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Cuatro Milpas, Zacatecas
  • Ejido El Potrero de Zamora, Nuevo León
  • Ejido El Saucillo, Nuevo León
  • Ejido Estanque de Norias, Coahuila
  • Ejido Guadalupe Victoria, Coahuila
  • Ejido Huertecillas, Zacatecas
  • Ejido La Encantada, Nuevo León
  • Ejido La Reforma, Coahuila
  • Ejido Las Huertas, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Los Encinos, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Salto de Guass, Zacatecas
  • Ejido San Joaquin de Soto, Nuevo León
  • Ejido Santa Teresa, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Tanque de Emergencia, Coahuila
  • Ejido Tanque de López, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Tepetate, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Vanegas de Juárez, Zacatecas
  • Ejido Zaragoza, Zacatecas
  • El Paso Zoo
  • Electric Power Research Institute
  • Endangered Species Coalition
  • Environmentally Endangered Lands Program – Miami-Dade County
  • EspacioNaturalArq
  • Especies, Sociedad y Hábitat, A.C.
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
  • Fiesta Youth
  • Florida Bat Working Group
  • Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Florida International University
  • Food Policy Council of San Antonio
  • Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold
  • Gila Native Plant Society
  • Gila Watershed Partnership
  • Girlstart
  • Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks
  • Gorilla Doctors
  • Greenspaces Alliance of South Texas
  • Guinea Ecologie
  • Henry Villas Zoo
  • Hill Country Conservancy
  • Hogan Lovells
  • I am a Scientist
  • Instituto de Ecología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • IUCN Species Survival Commission Bat Specialist Group
  • Jacksonville Zoological Society
  • James Bonham Academy
  • Laguna de Sánchez, Nuevo León
  • Latino Outdoors
  • Lubee Bat Conservancy
  • Maasai Mara University
  • Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
  • Miami Beach Botanical Garden
  • Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association
  • Miami Pine Rockland Coalition
  • Monkey Jungle
  • Nakanacagi Village
  • Naples Zoo
  • National Environment and Planning Agency
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Park Service
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • National Renewable Energy Lab
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Native Plant Society of New Mexico
  • Naturalia, A.C.
  • Nature Based Solutions Sdn. Bhd.
  • NatureFiji-MareqetiViti
  • Nevada Department of Wildlife
  • New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • North American Bat Conservation Alliance
  • North American Bat Monitoring Program
  • North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
  • North American Society for Bat Research
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Palmetto Bay Garden Club
  • Palo Alto Escuela Americana
  • Parque Ecológico Chipinque
  • Parques y Vida Silvestre de Nuevo León
  • Patch of Heaven Sanctuary
  • Pennsylvania Game Commission
  • Pinecrest Gardens
  • Pollinator Partnership
  • Polly Ground Community
  • PROFAUNA, A.C.
  • Programa para la Conservacion de Murcielagos de Colombia
  • Programa para la Conservación de Murciélagos de México
  • Pronatura Noreste, A.C.
  • Protección Civil Estatal (Morelos)
  • Protect Paradise
  • Rancho La Rita
  • Reef Check Malaysia
  • Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute
  • Rutgers University – Newark
  • Rwanda Development Board
  • Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
  • Salazar Center for North American Conservation
  • San Antonio River Foundation
  • Saved by Nature
  • Secretaria de Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural (Chiapas)
  • Shippensburg University
  • Sierra Club
  • South Florida Water Management District
  • Sul Ross State University
  • Tejocote, Nuevo León
  • Tepoztlán, Morelos
  • Texas Master Naturalists
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • The Jamaican Caves Organization
  • The National Trust of Fiji
  • The Nature Conservancy of Texas
  • Tropical Audubon Society
  • Tucson Agave Heritage Festival
  • Tucson Audubon Society
  • Tucson Mission Garden
  • U.S. Air Force
  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • U.S. Department of Energy Defense Related Uranium Mines Program
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Geological Society
  • Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua
  • Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas
  • Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo
  • Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos
  • Universidad de Antioquia
  • Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas
  • Universidad del Rosario
  • Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • University of Hyderabad
  • University of Miami
  • University of Tennessee – Knoxville
  • University of Vienna
  • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • White-nose Syndrome Response Team
  • Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Wildlife Habitat Council
  • Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Abandoned Mine Land Division
  • Xavier Cortada Foundation
  • Yo Miami
  • Young Womens Leadership Academy
  • Zoo Miami
  • Zoological Society of London

  • Interested in getting your business or organization involved? Visit batcon.org/corporate or email mhilbrich@batcon.org.

  • LEGACY CIRCLE

    We are deeply grateful to the individuals who generously included Bat Conservation International in their estate plans between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Their thoughtful commitment will create a lasting legacy, supporting bat conservation efforts worldwide.

  • Jennifer Frasier
  • Antonia Govoni
  • M.E. Hebb
  • Andrew Klotz
  • LeeAnn Lechelt
  • Mary Mason
  • Suzanne Paterson
  • Alissa Pope
  • Ronan Rock
  • Sarah Samaan
  • Jessica Sanders
  • Jennifer Shields
  • Robin Silver
  • Lee Simpson
  • Dorothy Turay
  • Anna Villanyi

  • Learn More:
    batcon.org/Legacy
BCI team members in Brazil.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D., and MGambaRios

Leadership Team

  • Board of Directors

    Dr. Andy Sansom Board Chair

  • Eileen Arbues Vice Chair
  • Ann George Secretary
  • Danielle Gustafson Treasurer
  • Dr. Gerald Carter Director
  • Gary Dreyzin Director
  • Dr. Brock Fenton Director
  • Dr. Shahroukh Mistry Director
  • Cecily Read Director
  • Sandy Read Director
  • Dr. Nancy Simmons Director
  • Jenn Stephens Director

  • Science Advisory Committee

    Dr. Luis F. Aguirre

  • Dr. Enrico Bernard
  • Dr. Sara Bumrungsri
  • Dr. Gerald Carter
  • Dr. Charles Chester
  • Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos
  • Dr. Brock Fenton
  • Dr. Tigga Kingston
  • Dr. Gary F. McCracken
  • Dr. Stuart Parsons
  • Dr. Paul A. Racey
  • Dr. Danilo Russo
  • Dr. Nancy Simmons
  • Dr. Paul W. Webala

  • Senior Leadership

    Mike Daulton Executive Director

  • Mylea Bayless Chief of Strategic Partnerships
  • Dr. Winifred Frick Chief Scientist
  • Michael Nakamoto Chief Operations Officer
  • Kevin Pierson Chief of Conservation and Global Strategy
People exploring a cave, wearing helmets and caving suits, beneath a large stalactite.
BCI team members in Brazil.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D., and MGambaRios

Leadership Team

  • Board of Directors

    Dr. Andy Sansom Board Chair

  • Eileen Arbues Vice Chair
  • Ann George Secretary
  • Danielle Gustafson Treasurer
  • Dr. Gerald Carter Director
  • Gary Dreyzin Director
  • Dr. Brock Fenton Director
  • Dr. Shahroukh Mistry Director
  • Cecily Read Director
  • Sandy Read Director
  • Dr. Nancy Simmons Director
  • Jenn Stephens Director

  • Science Advisory Committee

    Dr. Luis F. Aguirre

  • Dr. Enrico Bernard
  • Dr. Sara Bumrungsri
  • Dr. Gerald Carter
  • Dr. Charles Chester
  • Dr. Liliana M. Dávalos
  • Dr. Brock Fenton
  • Dr. Tigga Kingston
  • Dr. Gary F. McCracken
  • Dr. Stuart Parsons
  • Dr. Paul A. Racey
  • Dr. Danilo Russo
  • Dr. Nancy Simmons
  • Dr. Paul W. Webala

  • Senior Leadership

    Mike Daulton Executive Director

  • Mylea Bayless Chief of Strategic Partnerships
  • Dr. Winifred Frick Chief Scientist
  • Michael Nakamoto Chief Operations Officer
  • Kevin Pierson Chief of Conservation and Global Strategy
A Jamaican flower bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla) feeds on sugar water before being released outside Stony Hill Cave. Photo: Horizonline Pictures
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