annual report 2025

Navigating Change.
Leading with Purpose.

Inside

Bat Conservation International logo
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A Townsend’s big-eared bat hibernates inside a lava tube decorated with ice formations. This photograph was taken during a winter survey conducted to assess bat populations in Washington state, as part of our Diversity Grant from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Photo: Josh Hydeman

Annual Report 2025

MISSION ONE
Endangered Species Interventions
MISSION TWO
Protecting and Restoring Landscapes
MISSION THREE
High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions
MISSION FOUR
Inspiring Through Experience
Bats hanging upside down from a tree with green leaves.
Pacific flying foxes hang from a tree in Fiji.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures
financials
Financial Summary
support
Partners in Conservation
About the cover: Community-based monitoring crew and partners at Mojonera, monitoring the bat colony of Mina Todos Santos, recently declared a Site of Importance for Conservation of Bats (SICOM) in Mexico.
Photo: Ruben Galicia
Learn more about BCI and our goal to end bat extinctions worldwide.

MESSAGE FROM our Interim Chief Executive Officer

Navigating Change.
Leading with Purpose.

2025 Fiscal Year Annual Report
July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025
Photo: Javier Folgar
Eileen Arbues
Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) has been a year of both progress and change. After eight years of visionary leadership as Executive Director of Bat Conservation International (BCI), Mike Daulton stepped down, and I took on the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer.* During his tenure, Mike led a historic expansion for BCI, increasing our reach and establishing a roadmap for some of the most significant and impactful bat conservation efforts in the world. His impact was defining.

Now, as we transition into BCI’s next phase of growth, we can look back with pride and satisfaction on FY25, the gains we made, and our ongoing commitment to protecting and saving the world’s bats.

Whether domestically or on the international stage, our leadership in FY25 was prominent and noteworthy. Some examples include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarding our Agave Restoration Initiative team with the Recovery Champions Award for leadership in the recovery of the Endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis). Similarly, BCI’s continued work in Colombia resulted in the first habitat bank for bat conservation in Latin America while we also protected and strengthened conservation of 10 priority bat roosts in Mexico.

BCI’s Chief Scientist, Winifred Frick, Ph.D., chaired a Bat Mitigation Working Group for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species’ Energy Task Force, while BCI also hosted a bat conservation event at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Colombia. Our accomplished team of scientists also produced 21 scientific publications and launched 11 new BCI-led research projects.

Our focus on providing educational support across a broad spectrum of students and scholars continued, culminating in our Student Scholars Program funding 417 scholars’ bat research in 80 countries since its launch. FY25 brought three new countries into our scholar community, including Benin, Burkina Faso, and Kosovo.

Finally, partnering with The LEGO Group and Discovery Education, we designed, developed, and distributed the “Night Navigators: Build for Bats” Virtual Field Trip, which has reached approximately 830,000 students to date.

These are just a few of our FY25 accomplishments, so please read on to learn more.

As is often said, “The only thing that is constant is change.” I’d suggest that there’s another constant: BCI’s unwavering commitment to conservation and our mission to save the world’s 1,500+ bat species and their ecosystems, helping ensure a healthy planet. Thank you for your partnership as we do so.

—Eileen Arbues

*batcon.org/transition

Mission One: Endangered Species Interventions

Mission 1
Endangered Species Interventions

Saving endangered cave bats around
the globe

Shimoni Slave Caves in Shimoni, Kenya.
Photo: Kathryn Slater

kenya

Three researchers in a dark cave wear protective suits, face masks, and headlamps as they look upward toward a light source near a rocky formation.
Isabella Mandl, Ph.D., Kathryn Slater, and Jon Flanders, Ph.D., in one of the Three Sisters Caves in Fikirini, Kenya.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Protecting Bat Caves in Kenya

Two cave systems in Kenya are home to 70% of the known population of Endangered Hildegarde’s tomb bats (Taphozous hildegardeae). These bats are threatened by deforestation and urban development along Kenya’s coastline.

When we learned the land around Kaboga Cave was about to be sold to developers, BCI actively worked to purchase the land for long-term conservation. Kenyan partner Angaza Vijiji now manages the site, and we have constructed a perimeter wall to prevent disturbance of the bats, as well as conducted an ecological survey and begun initial site maintenance. We are working with partners to conduct workshops and outreach with local communities to determine how to use the land effectively to benefit the bats and residents.

At the Three Sisters Caves in Fikirini, we developed the initial infrastructure to accelerate forest restoration activities and have conducted five training workshops with the local community.

We partnered with the German Society for International Cooperation and hired a consultant to study the potential for ecotourism in the region, working toward a regional conservation action plan.

A small, light-brown bat with large dark eyes is held gently in a person's hand, which is protected by a thick, textured black glove.
An Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) in Kenya.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures
At the Three Sisters Caves, we developed the initial infrastructure to accelerate forest restoration activities and have conducted five training workshops with the Fikirini community.

Jamaica

Educating and Empowering People in Jamaica

Our work in Jamaica focuses on saving two Critically Endangered bat species from extinction: the Jamaican flower bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla) and Jamaican greater funnel-eared bat (Natalus jamaicensis). Breeding populations of these bats are only known to persist in two hot caves: Stony Hill Cave and St. Clair Cave. We are working with and empowering local communities on long-term solutions to protect the bats and their habitat.

Our FY25 accomplishments included:

  • Completing the installation of predator-proof fences at both caves.
  • Launching Jamaica’s first bat-focused museum exhibit, “Guardians of the Night,” at the Natural History Museum of Jamaica.
We are working with and empowering local communities on long-term solutions to protect the bats and their habitat.
A group of five smiling researchers in field gear pose together at the base of a massive tree with a dense curtain of hanging aerial roots inside a cave-like opening.
Endangered Species Interventions Director Jon Flanders, Ph.D., (second from right) with the National Environment and Planning Agency team at St. Clair Cave in Jamaica.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Fiji

A man in a bright green patterned shirt performs a traditional kava ceremony, pouring liquid from a coconut shell into a wooden bowl as two men watch respectfully.
BCI staff being welcomed to Nakanacagi with a traditional kava ceremony.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Fiji

Creating a Sanctuary in Fiji

Fiji’s Nakanacagi Cave is the world’s only known maternity roost for the Fijian free-tailed bat (Mops bregullae). Working with Nakanacagi community members and other partners, we created Fiji’s first bat-focused conservation area, the Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary. The site’s conservation management plan was created in late 2024 and presented to the Fijian government.
A diverse group of eight people stand in a row on a wooden deck overlooking the water, with two men in the center holding an official conservation document together.
BCI and Fijian partners present the Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary Management Plan to Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures
A woman in a grey cap and t-shirt kneels in a sunlit field, carefully planting a small green seedling into the dark soil.
Karin Akre, Ph.D., helping with forest restoration efforts in Fiji.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

night watch

Night Watch: A Worldwide Mission

To share stories of our conservation work around the globe, we launched a video campaign called “Night Watch: A Worldwide Mission,” which spotlights our Endangered Species Intervention work through visual storytelling. The campaign focuses on cave conservation in Jamaica, Fiji, and Kenya, bringing to life our collaborations with local communities to protect some of the world’s most imperiled bats.

To date, there have been 1.8 million views for “Night Watch: A Worldwide Mission.”

Inside a dimly lit cave, dozens of bats fly near the ceiling where bright natural light pours through several circular openings in the rocky roof.
Multiple bat species fly in Makuruhu Cave, Kenya.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Protecting the Florida Bonneted Bat

We conducted the first GPS study of the Endangered Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) in an urban environment, gathering crucial information on its movement ecology, including flight corridors and foraging sites. This critical data supports our ongoing conservation strategy in Miami-Dade County and beyond. BCI is working as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service core team of experts for the species status assessment and recovery plan.

FY25 by the numbers:

40 Florida bonneted bats tagged with GPS trackers.

10 additional artificial roosts installed (in addition to replacing deteriorating roosts from 2018 with a new and improved design).

A close-up, low-light shot of a researcher wearing a white face mask and black gloves using surgical tweezers to carefully examine or tag a small bat.
A BCI staff member attaches a GPS collar to a Florida bonneted bat in Miami-Dade County.
Credit: MGambaRios
A close-up profile of a small brown bat extending its long, slender red tongue deep into the center of a pale yellow flower to drink nectar.
Mexican long-nosed bat drinks from an agave.
Photo: Horizonline Pictures

Global Media Attention for BCI Discovery in Arizona

When BCI and partners discovered Endangered Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) in Arizona, expanding the known range for the species, media around the world took notice. The discovery was covered by dozens of media outlets and put the spotlight on the significance of our conservation work.

Protecting Mexican Caves

We protected and strengthened conservation in 10 priority bat roosts in Mexico through their certification as Sites of Importance for Conservation of Bats (SICOMs) by the Latin America and Caribbean Network for Bat Conservation (RELCOM).

Through strategic alliances with an extensive network of local collaborators, from community landowners to academia and conservation organizations in eight Mexican states, we will protect:

27
bat species
10
million bats
10
caves
A group of five people stand inside a cave next to a formal commemorative plaque on an easel. The plaque is decorated with red and orange flowers.
The Santa Eulalia caverns in Mexico receive certification as a SICOM.
Photo: Omar Medrano

Establishing New Bat Conservation Projects in Peru

We worked with our partner Sallqa Peru to develop and test two artificial roosts for the Endangered smoky bat (Amorphochilus schnablii). The successful use of the artificial roost by the smoky bat provides us with a conservation tool to support the recovery of the species.

Additionally, in collaboration with Yunkawasi, a partner in Peru, we created and launched a bat curriculum that has been used throughout the country, reaching more than 200,000 people in its first year alone.

Protecting Cave Roosting Bats in Brazil

We have established ourselves as a key partner for the National Center for Research and Conservation of Caves (ICMBio/CECAV), being actively involved in four of six actions focused on bats from the National Action Plan for Cave Conservation (PAN Cavernas), and with two BCI staff members participating in the annual follow-up workshop.

Through our cave assessments in the Cerrado biome, 49 caves were evaluated, with two identified as hot caves, marking the first records of this rare ecosystem for the biome. Additionally, we found that vampire bat control methods in Brazil pose a significant threat to all cave-dwelling bats. We are now developing a vampire bat initiative to minimize their impacts.

Two small bats are captured in mid-flight against a black background. They have orange-brown fur and thin, translucent grey wings fully extended.
Brazilian funnel-eared bat (Natalus macrourus) and Wagner’s mustached bat (Pteronotus rubiginosus) were recorded in one of the first hot caves identified in the Cerrado biome.
Photo: Jennifer Barros, Ph.D.
La Ruta de las Alas launch event in Bogota, Colombia.
Photo: MGambaRios
A high-angle view of a social gathering in a multi-story indoor courtyard. People are mingling and talking near a central fountain, with the space bathed in blue atmospheric lighting.

Protecting Habitat for the Endangered Colombian Antioquian Sac-winged Bat

To provide a long-term conservation action that ensures the protection of the habitat for the Endangered Antioquian sac-winged bat (Saccopterix antioquensis) in Colombia, La Ruta de las Alas (The Route of the Wings)—a collaborative effort of BCI and multiple partners in Colombia—created the first habitat bank for bat conservation in Latin America: “Ika Refuge: The Guardian of the Karst Corridor of Eastern Antioquia.”

We held a successful Ika Refuge launch event in Bogota with participants from the government, NGOs, academic institutions, and the private sector. Our partners from La Ruta de las Alas participated in more than a dozen national and international events to share the initiative’s success.

Ika Refuge will protect hundreds of species, including:

  • 80+ bat species
  • 139 bird species (including four endemics)
  • 220 plant species
  • 45+ mammal species
“The collaboration with BCI has been fundamental to strengthening bat and biodiversity conservation in Colombia.”
—Diana Cardona, Executive Director, Cuántico – Global Eco Services
A large bat with orange and tan fur on its body and dark wings hangs from a tree branch at night, surrounded by large green leaves.
Straw-colored fruit bat (Eidolon helvum).
Photo: Natalie Weber

Protecting Straw-Colored Fruit Bats in Guinea

When nearly 500,000 straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) suddenly appeared in a park in a town in southeastern Guinea in March 2025, residents and local authorities considered expelling the colony. Recognizing that such large aggregations have not been recorded from West Africa in the last 15 years, BCI teamed up with local partner Guinée Ecologie to arrange a workshop for more than 30 local stakeholders to work through residents’ concerns and identify amicable solutions. We worked online with stakeholders to reassure them of the benefits of a peaceful co-existence, and we predicted the bats would soon move on their annual migration, which they did. We are now working toward the continued support of community leaders and authorities for the protection of this important roost site for straw-colored fruit bats, assuming their return.
Close-up of a large black bat with striking orange-red eyes. It is being held securely in a white cloth wrap by a person wearing a thick, protective tan field glove.
Livingstone’s fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii) in the Comoros.
Photo: Isabella Mandl, Ph.D.

Livingstone’s Fruit Bat Downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered

In the Union of the Comoros, populations of Livingstone’s fruit bat (Pteropus livingstonii) have stabilized enough to downlist the species from Critically Endangered to Endangered. BCI has worked with NGO Dahari to study the bats using GPS trackers since 2021. This collaboration has enabled Dahari to better monitor and protect the species.
“We have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with BCI over the past five years. The collaboration has delivered data leading to the downgrading of the Livingstone’s fruit bat to Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List, identified new roost sites and key feeding areas, and provided funding to support the development of our conservation program, signing agreements with landowners to put these priority areas into conservation. We view this as a very successful example of an NGO with a global reach empowering local conservation efforts.”
—Hugh Doulton, Co-Director of NGO Dahari

Surveying the Pemba Flying Fox

Following concerns about a decline in population, we facilitated a social and ecological survey on Pemba Island to determine the status of the Pemba flying fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi) in Tanzania. Working with partners, we found a large bat population, and local residents have an interest in renewing bat awareness campaigns.

Working Towards a Sustainable Guano Harvest in Mozambique

Teaming up with Gorongosa National Park and GuanoMoz, we are learning more about sustainable guano harvesting in Mozambique. We collaborated with local partners to develop extraction guidelines and a training handbook to provide a framework for sustainable harvesting in the region. We also worked together to collect data on cave health and evaluate the impacts of extracting guano from caves for adaptive management.

Acoustic Bat Monitoring Expands in Rwanda

After our successful rediscovery of Hill’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli) in Nyungwe National Park in 2019, we were invited to expand our acoustic monitoring work to Gishwati-Mukura National Park to look for other rare bats. Our local partner, Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association, led training workshops for Gishwati staff, who now incorporate acoustic bat detectors as part of their daily routines. This is a significant milestone since Gishwati is the last known Rwandan location for the Endangered Ruwenzori horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ruwenzorii), which hasn’t been recorded in the country for decades.
A close-up, front-facing view of a small bat's face, highlighting its large, ribbed ears and unique nose leaf structure. It is being held in a gloved hand.
A Hill’s horsehoe bat (Rhinolophus hilli) in Rwanda.
Photo: Jon Flanders, Ph.D.

India Collaborations and Initiatives

Following the India State of the Bats meeting, we continued facilitating meetings and workshops to develop the final report, which will be released in early 2026. The final report, “The State of India’s Bats,” will serve as a key reference on knowledge gaps and opportunities in Indian bat conservation in the coming decade.

We also developed a study focusing on the importance of bats living in historical monuments in urban areas. Preliminary results show that bats consume important rice and sugarcane pests. In partnership with WWF India, we will start conducting bat walks in the monuments.

Tughlaqabad Fort in India is a historical monument that is being studied.
Photo: Rohit Chakravarty, Ph.D.

Mission Two: Protect and Restore Landscapes

Mission 2
Protect and Restore Landscapes

Restoring Western Lands for Bats

After fires ravaged New Mexico’s landscapes several years ago and burned vast swaths of national forest land, BCI started working with federal agencies and other partners to restore affected areas, including watersheds. These large landscape-scale projects are vital since they protect migratory corridors that benefit bats.
In 2025, BCI’s Habitat Protection & Restoration Program restored Bluebell Spring, a rare Sonoran desert oasis whose palm trees are used for roosting by the yellow bat (Lasiurus xanthinus), an Arizona Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and whose restored pools are a critical drinking resource for another 14 bat species.
Photo: Dan Taylor
BCI and partners completed planning and essential project development in 24 watersheds impacted by New Mexico’s second largest wildfire in the Gila National Forest.
In 2025, BCI’s Habitat Protection & Restoration Program restored Bluebell Spring, a rare Sonoran desert oasis whose palm trees are used for roosting by the yellow bat (Lasiurus xanthinus), an Arizona Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and whose restored pools are a critical drinking resource for another 14 bat species.
Photo: Dan Taylor
A big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).
Photo: Sarah Marquez
Close-up of a small, fuzzy brown bat resting in a rocky crevice. The bat has a black face, large ears, and its tiny claws are visible as it huddles against the light-colored stone.
BCI staff work to clear the spring box of a spring impacted by the Hermit Peak and Calf Creek Fires in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Photo: John Moeny
Two researchers in a pine forest are bent over a muddy, hand-constructed water basin. They appear to be maintaining or checking the small wildlife water source in the clearing.
During FY25, we:

  • Entered a five-year, $6 million mutually beneficial agreement with the Santa Fe National Forest to assist with post-fire restoration efforts after New Mexico’s largest wildfire.
  • Completed watershed planning and essential project development in 24 watersheds impacted by New Mexico’s second largest wildfire in the Gila National Forest. Projects identified include protecting several bat-occupied caves, and stream and wetland restoration covering nearly 170 linear miles.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champions Award

One of our greatest honors in FY25 was receiving the Recovery Champions Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. BCI’s Agave Restoration Initiative team was recognized as a Recovery Champion for leadership in the recovery of the Endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis).
The work leading up to this award involved:
100+
partners
12
U.S. and Mexican states
1 million+
native agave seeds collected
A Mexican long-nosed bat in flight.
Photo: J. Scott Altenbach
182,000
agaves planted in the U.S. and Mexico
5,000+
hectares of land protected or restored
26
native plant nurseries supported
270
community members trained in restoration, sustainable agricultural techniques, and ecological monitoring
A high-detail profile of a light-colored nectar-feeding bat in mid-flight against a white background, showing its elongated snout, large eyes, and the intricate bone structure of its wings.
A Mexican long-nosed bat in flight.
Photo: J. Scott Altenbach
A wide desert landscape featuring blooming agave plants with tall yellow flower stalks. Rugged mountains rise in the background under a dramatic, cloudy sky at dusk or dawn.
Blooming agaves in Coahuila, Mexico.
Photo: Kristen Lear, Ph.D.
Researchers use a long yellow telescopic pole to reach the high flowering branches of a tall agave plant in a dense, hilly scrubland. They appear to be collecting samples or data.
During a training and capacity-building workshop with partners from the Northeast Mexico Agave Restoration Network, a crew mounts a camera trap close to agave flowers to record bat visitations.
Photo: Isai Dominguez

Protecting Bats’ Nectar Corridors in the U.S. and Mexico

Work in Mexico

  • In collaboration with the National Commission for Protected Areas (CONANP), we launched a regional bat monitoring program for northeast Mexico, including a training and capacity-building workshop for Northeast Mexico Protected Areas, as well as coordinated monitoring efforts. This effort involved 31 participants from 10 federal Protected Areas from five states and representatives of Secretaría de Medio Ambiente-Coahuila (SMA). Together, they protect almost 3 million hectares.
  • The Northeast Mexico Agave Restoration Network held its third meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, with 58 key collaborators from 27 different partner organizations in attendance. The main win was the signing of a Letter of Intention to formalize the Northeast Mexico Agave Restoration Network as a collaborative network to continue advancing restoration, conservation, and management of bats and critical habitats.
  • The annual Bat Fest Monterrey served as a platform for raising public awareness about the importance of bats and their conservation. Local education partner Battus hosted the event, which brought 25 organizations and 355 participants.
  • We hosted two Exchanges of Experience with 30 participants to foster peer-to-peer learning on sustainable business development, restoration, and bat and agave monitoring. This included an Exchange of Experience for four women’s groups, involving 20 women developing sustainable green business enterprises.
  • We held nine training workshops to enhance local capacity for restoration, sustainable land management, sustainable green businesses, and bat and agave monitoring. These benefited 431 people.
  • We continued to support 10 green community businesses in Mexico that sustain natural resources and agave habitat for bats, benefiting 245 local people.
“Our BCI partners encourage us to continue protecting all bat species through environmental education and engaging residents of rural communities. This has opened the door to other conservation projects that benefit the local and regional communities.”
— Jose (Pepe) Antonio Davila Paulin, Director of Cuenca Don Martin-CONANP (National Commission for Protected Areas)
A person in a blue shirt and sun hat uses a long silver pole to reach the top of a tall agave stalk in a dry, rolling desert landscape under a bright, clear blue sky.
Blooming agaves in Coahuila, Mexico.
Photo: Kristen Lear, Ph.D.

BCI Discovers Expanded Range for Mexican Long-Nosed Bats Using eDNA

We detected the first known records of Endangered Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) in the state of Arizona, as well as near Silver City/Gila, New Mexico, 100 miles north of the nearest known roost and the most northerly detection of the species to date. We worked with our network of community scientists to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from hummingbird feeders, and BCI staff collected samples from blooming agaves. The data will be used to update species range maps with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally, BCI is working with federal partners to provide recommendations for energy development projects based on these findings.

Work in the Southwest U.S.

  • We launched a pilot project integrating agave restoration into livestock management in the Southwest U.S.
  • We established new partnership with the San Carlos Apache Tribe in Arizona to restore agaves on Tribal lands for bat conservation and cultural uses, and the tribal greenhouse renovation was completed.
  • BCI was awarded a Share with Wildlife Project by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to implement agave enhancement and intensive eDNA sampling in a range expansion area for the Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) in New Mexico.
“Through the projects we’ve implemented in coordination with BCI, we’ve witnessed a remarkable shift in the perception of bats. Once seen as enigmatic and harmful, they are now recognized as allies in community development. We’ve observed how efforts to protect and restore bats and their habitats translate into adaptive actions for resilience, the recovery of biodiversity, and improved productivity in the territories we’ve worked in.”
—José Juan Flores-Maldonado, Executive Director for Especies Sociedad y Hábitat AC (ESHAC)
A juvenile California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus) flies effortlessly between the bars of a cupola—a bat-compatible closure that keeps human intruders out but allows the bats to enter and exit the mine. Despite being new to flight, the bat shows no hesitation as it skillfully navigates its way through the bars.
Photo: Josh Hydeman

Subterranean Discoveries and Projects

In FY25, we:

  • Discovered the largest known Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) hibernaculum and the second-largest known little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis) hibernaculum in Washington state under our Diversity Grant from Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
  • Documented multiple significant California leaf-nosed bat (Macrotus californicus) roosts in the Mojave-Sonoran region, under our agreements with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Conducted habitat assessments on nearly 600 abandoned mines in nine states, working under multiple federal grants and agreements. More than 150 of these abandoned mines provide bat habitat and will be managed for long-term protection.
A group of people in hiking gear stand near a small stream in a mountain valley. The landscape is filled with dormant winter grasses, bare trees, and evergreen pines under a cloudy sky.
Restoration efforts in Black Canyon.
Photo: Dan Taylor

Geospatial Work

During FY25, we worked on unique subterranean projects to explore below-ground bat habitat with laser-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanners. These projects included:

  • Deploying handheld LiDAR scanners to map the interior structure of Volcán de los Murciélagos, one of Mexico’s most significant bat roosts. We created a 3D model that allows us to analyze structural changes over time to support habitat protection for a critically important roost.
  • Conducting LiDAR scans of nine subterranean features at Warm Springs Canyon in Death Valley, California. The 3D modeling and mapping informs habitat suitability assessment and serves as a baseline for future monitoring.
A group of people in hiking gear stand near a small stream in a mountain valley. The landscape is filled with dormant winter grasses, bare trees, and evergreen pines under a cloudy sky.
Restoration efforts in Black Canyon.
Photo: Dan Taylor
  • Supporting acoustic monitoring efforts on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota by analyzing spatial habitat variables across the lake. The results helped inform placement of acoustic monitoring devices around the lake to learn about species presence and the impact of recreation on the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), and other species of concern.
  • Utilizing drone-mounted LiDAR systems to create a detailed terrain model of the Black Canyon area within the Gila National Forest in New Mexico to support post-fire habitat documentation and restoration efforts.
  • Designing and implementing a robust geodatabase for tracking agave planting and monitoring efforts and supporting BCI’s pollinator-focused conservation initiatives.
  • Designing and implementing data collection methods for spring assessment in New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest to support water resource protection and habitat management for bats.

Mission Three: High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions

Mission 3
High-Priority Research and Scalable Solutions

Wind Program Expands Its International Reach

BCI’s Wind Program by the Numbers
3
scientific papers published
3
policy briefs disseminate
8
international projects initiated
BCI’s wind program expanded its international impact this year with projects on multiple continents. We are working to implement fatality minimization at a wind farm in Africa, consulted on three projects in Canada, and joined four international teams studying bats at wind energy projects in Australia.

We launched a Bat Mitigation Working Group for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species’ Energy Task Force, chaired by BCI’s Chief Scientist Winifred Frick, Ph.D. This group held a virtual workshop bringing together experts from every continent where bats live, sharing policies, strengths, and problems related to bat fatalities at wind energy facilities from each region. The workshop advanced the growth of a global network to share strategies for protecting bats as wind energy development expands worldwide.

We advanced the initial stages of multiple research projects to test ways to deter bats from turbines, including bio-acoustic and visual deterrence strategies.

“Collaborating with BCI brings global expertise and perspective to our research programs. This partnership allows us to learn from international experiences, connect with researchers tackling similar challenges, and recognize that the threats facing Australian bats are part of a broader global story. By working together, we amplify the voice for bats, strengthen our research capacity, and build deeper knowledge on how to help bats not just survive, but thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
—Emma Bennett, Principal Ecologist at Elmoby Ecology in Australia
Wind energy development is expanding rapidly around the world, including in India.
Photo: Sreejith Jayakumar and Rohit Chakravarty, Ph.D.
Three researchers wearing headlamps work at a table at night. One examines a small object, another looks at a smartphone, and a third stands in the background in waders.
Researchers inspect a collar that will attach a solar rechargeable radio tag to track hoary bat migratory behavior in California, which can inform operational changes at wind turbines to protect bats.
Photo: Winifred Frick, Ph.D.
Extreme close-up of a bat’s head in profile against a black background, showing its dark eye, delicate pinkish-brown ear structure, and multi-colored fuzzy fur.
Hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) are one of the species heavily impacted by wind energy development.
Photo: Michael Durham/Minden Pictures
“Our collaboration with BCI has brought the impacts of renewable energy on bats to a global stage, reaching a host of different stakeholders. Through the Energy Task Force’s diverse network of governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and civil society, bats are now a clear priority in efforts to align renewable energy development with the conservation of migratory species.”
—Manoswini Sarkar, Global Energy Policy Officer, BirdLife International
Five researchers wearing jumpsuits, masks, and bright headlamps explore a large, dark underground cave with a rocky ceiling and a small natural opening above.
Team members survey for white-nose syndrome in the Texas Hill Country.
Photo: Rachel Harper

Working to Understand White-Nose Syndrome in the Western U.S.

BCI began a collaboration with stakeholders from Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Northern Mexico to understand the threat that white-nose syndrome (WNS) poses to western bat populations, including the cave myotis (Myotis velifer).

BCI continues to lead research efforts focused on understanding the ecology and impacts of WNS in Texas bats and movement patterns in cave myotis. Filling in these knowledge gaps is critical in our fight to protect vulnerable bat populations from WNS in the Western U.S.

A small, fluffy brown bat clings to the underside of a rough, light-colored rock surface. Its tiny ear and folded wing are visible in the sharp, high-contrast light.
A tricolored bat hangs on a cave wall.
Photo: Rachel Harper

Conservation Planning for WNS Recovery

BCI is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to create a tool for assessing management needs for winter and summer roosts to protect and support the recovery of bats affected by WNS. We also advanced two USFWS-funded projects to understand population genetics in WNS survivors, including genes related to gaining fat. Preliminary analyses suggest that genes that help little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) survive WNS may be spreading in the newest generation of bats.

High-Impact Media Coverage

BCI’s leadership and scientific expertise were featured prominently in two major articles in The New York Times, elevating public awareness of WNS and the broader impact of bat population declines:

“A Fungus Decimated American Bats. Now Scientists Are Fighting Back.” Click Here

“Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations” Click Here

Leading Global Bat Research

In 2025, BCI:

  • Produced 21 scientific publications, including papers in high-impact journals such as Conservation Letters, Global Ecology and Conservation Biology, Ecology, and the Proceedings of the Royal Society.
  • Launched 11 new BCI-led scientific research projects.
  • Completed 20 BCI-led scientific research projects.
  • Continued 41 ongoing BCI-led scientific research projects.
  • Hosted or participated in 20+ talks and events with BCI scientists.

Working with the U.S. Military to Monitor Bats

BCI partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Defense (DoD) to support bat monitoring on all DoD-managed lands across all branches of the military. We worked with 90 military installations across 30 states, including 63 Air Force, 11 Army National Guard, seven Navy, six Marines, and three Army installations.

Fat Bat Research in Pennsylvania

A scientific monitoring station in a field features a solar panel on the ground connected to a tall metal pole holding a white bucket-like device and foam insulation.
This insect trap will confirm what insect prey species are present for bats to eat.
Photo: Brandi Christiano
In 2025, we kicked off a collaboration with the Pennsylvania Game Commission on a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-funded project to support population recovery for bat species affected by white-nose syndrome in Pennsylvania. The two-year effort aims to understand how best to restore and manage foraging habitat for bats to increase survival and support reproductive success.
A group of children in green shirts and bat-themed masks and capes participate in an outdoor educational activity led by an adult researcher in a tan vest.
Students celebrate Bat Week in Colombia.
Photo: Daisy Gomez

MENTOR-Bat by the Numbers:

9 fellows

3 mentors

3 countries represented: Cameroon, Colombia, Indonesia

3 Bat Week events

100+ people engaged with Bat Week events

1 TV appearance in Cameroon

MENTOR-Bat Unites Fellows and Mentors

The MENTOR-Bat cohort of nine fellows and three mentors from Cameroon, Colombia, and Indonesia successfully completed the academic portion of the program. During Bat Week, each country’s cohort organized local bat appreciation events, including school visits, community outreach, and interviews on local TV to raise awareness about bats’ ecological importance. In FY25, fellows began implementing their pilot projects, which focused on African straw-colored fruti bat (Eidolon helvum) conservation in Cameroon, sustainable guano harvesting in Indonesia, and sustainable cave tourism in Colombia.
A classroom full of students with their hands raised, participating in an educational session led by three instructors standing in front of informative banners and posters.
Students in Cameroon learn about bats as part of Bat Week.
Photo: Patrick Atagana
Four professionals pose for a photo in front of a large blue "COP16 COLOMBIA" sign featuring a colorful flower logo and the slogan "Paz con la Naturaleza" under a bright sky.
BCI staff members at COP16. From left: Luz de Wit, Ph.D., Teague O’Mara, Ph.D., Winifred Frick, Ph.D., and Mylea Bayless.
Photo: Luz de Wit, Ph.D.

Leadership on the International Stage at COP16

At the United Nations’ Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Colombia, we hosted a side event for 40 attendees showcasing our analysis of how bat conservation contributes to achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

Student Scholars Program Funds Bat Researchers

BCI’s Student Scholars Program has funded 417 scholars’ bat research in 80 countries since the 1980s.

To further our Student Scholars’ professional growth and provide opportunities to share research and network, we hosted the second Annual Cohort2Cohort (C2C) Conference, and our first Student Scholar Professional Development Workshop focusing on community engagement.

“Partnering with BCI has been a dream for a bat scholar like me! Their support has made it possible to explore the secret lives of cave-roosting bats in San Luis Potosí, from their activity and health to the threats they face from disease and habitat change. Thanks to BCI’s funding, we’re not just collecting data; we’re strengthening local conservation and turning research into real-world impact. I’m beyond thankful to be part of this collaboration.”
—Gabriela González-Olimón, 2025 Student Scholar
Two researchers in white lab coats, face masks, and gloves carefully examine biological samples in petri dishes using a magnifying glass in a bright, organized laboratory.
2023 Student Scholar, Paul John Tolentino, processing samples to identify diet composition in the Philippines.
Photo: Paul John Tolentino
A researcher with a white headscarf and long dark hair stands in a sunlit forest, carefully mounting or checking a small black monitoring device attached to a thin tree trunk.
2024 Student Scholar, Angélica Yantén, installs an Audiomoth recorder in a patch of Brazilian forest.
Photo: Luiz Cardoso

2025 Student Scholar Cohort by the Numbers:

14 scholars

10 countries represented

3 new countries added to our scholarship community: Benin, Burkina Faso, and Kosovo

Community Engagement Workshop by the Numbers:

36 attendees

7 countries represented

4 cohorts represented

Student Scholar Cohort2Cohort Conference by the Numbers:

9 cohorts represented

20 countries represented

40 scholars attended

“With the support of BCI, we have been able to showcase bats throughout Peru’s Sacred Valley. In places where they are still seen with fear, we now inspire curiosity and admiration. Every talk and shared observation helps to break down myths and plant knowledge.”
—Antony Rivera, 2025 Student Scholar
Two reddish-brown bats with large, intelligent eyes hang upside down from a green leaf. Their wings are folded close to their furry bodies as they look toward the camera.
Wahlberg’s epauletted fruit bat (Epomophorus wahlbergi) is one of many bat species that can serve as a biodiversity indicator in Kenya.
Photo: Dan Logen

Conservation Evidence Program Focuses on Carbon Credits

The Conservation Evidence Program has expanded its work to support biodiversity verification for Climate, Community, and Biodiversity certificates as part of Verra’s supplemental certification program for carbon credits. This work partners with a carbon credit developer in Kenya to include bat species as indicators that show carbon sequestration efforts are improving biodiversity. The work is deeply rooted within local communities that directly benefit from participating in the project, which provides monetary support that allows them to maintain traditional cultural practices.
A close-up shot showing a colony of several small, gray-furred bats huddled tightly together within a narrow vertical crevice, their dark eyes and delicate ears visible.
Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) often roost under bridges.
Photo: Rachel Harper

New Tool Predicts Bat Presence Under Bridges

One Health and the North American Bat Monitoring Program teamed up with Montana State University to develop an open-access tool that can help predict whether Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) will be found roosting underneath a bridge. This new tool will help prioritize survey efforts.
A tall metal acoustic monitoring pole stands in a lush field of green ferns. In the background, a small dark shed is visible at the edge of a dense pine forest under a blue sky.
A stationary acoustic survey in northern Michigan collects data for NABat.
Photo: Crystal Birdsall

North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) Celebrates 10 Years

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of NABat, which involves 480+ partner organizations in the U.S. and Canada and eight regional bat hubs. Over the past 10 years, the NABat community has contributed more than 170 million data records, representing 47 North American bat species. The NABat program is crucial to monitoring the health and status of North America’s bat populations.
A stationary acoustic survey in northern Michigan collects data for NABat.
Photo: Crystal Birdsall

BCI’s 10-Year Total NABat Database Contributions:

8 million+ acoustic records

3,000+ hibernacula counts

6,000+ capture records

Mission Four: Inspiring Through Experience

Mission 4
Inspiring Through Experience

Educational Partnership with the Lego Group and Discovery Education

A man and a teenager pose on either side of a large, colorful "ZOO MIAMI" sign. The modern building entrance and green trees are visible in the background.
Miami student Martin and The LEGO Group’s David Pallash take a photo break between filming Virtual Field Trip segments.
Photo: Mylea Bayless
BCI partnered with The LEGO Group and Discovery Education to design, develop, and distribute the “Night Navigators: Build for Bats” Virtual Field Trip (VFT). This innovative tool introduces students to bats and highlights bat conservation projects, while inspiring action and creativity to protect bats and their habitats. The VFT includes an Educator Guide, ready-to-use activities, and a mini lesson about how bats use their senses to navigate in the dark.
“Through play, VFT invites students to explore how bats learn while uncovering the vital role these animals play in our ecosystems. We are proud to have worked with The LEGO Group and BCI on this classroom resource, as it helps educators create the engaging lessons that students demand and deserve.”
—Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education
A stylized animation shows a cartoon bat with large eyes flying over a blue pond at night. Three smaller flying insects are depicted against a city skyline.
VFT Reach By the Numbers:
829,000+
U.S. students
81%
of student participants were in elementary school (in addition to 14% in middle school and 4% in high school)
32,000+
user interactions with VFT resources
78,000+
page views
“For students in Florida, VFT lets them become aware of a native animal. Also, most students said at the beginning they were afraid of bats, but this helped them see that bats are not so scary.”
—Florida educator
A large group of people in hiking attire pose for a photo in a golden grassy field. A line of dark green trees and a bright, cloudy sky form the backdrop.
Eager hikers explore the area around Bracken Cave on Bracken Hike Day.
Photo: Lori Largen
A massive swarm of bats flies through a pale, cloudy sky at dusk; the sheer number of bats creates a dense, flickering pattern across the entire frame.
Bats emerge from Bracken Cave.
Photo: Loveleigh Photos
Bracken Cave FY25 By the Numbers:

267 volunteers

3,200+ volunteer hours

65 outreach events, including schools, community groups, fairs, and festivals

65,000+ people reached via outreach events

Record Number of Visitors at Bracken Cave

Bracken Cave is home to the world’s largest maternity colony of more than 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) each summer, and it is a vital resource for bat conservation and education. In FY25, record-breaking numbers of docents, volunteers, and participants enjoyed the property. We also made several property improvements to make it easier for people to enjoy spending time there and engage with Bracken Cave.

Bracken’s dedicated volunteers spent hours doing everything from guiding walks and bat flight tours to conducting maintenance, surveying caves, and doing public outreach and community education.

A group of people practice yoga in a sunlit outdoor area. They stand in a row with arms raised toward the sky, surrounded by large, leafy oak trees.
Participants enjoy Bat Yoga at Bracken Cave.
Photo: MGambaRios

Bracken Cave FY25 Highlights:

  • A new bird blind was built at Bracken with support from the Wayne Hollomon Price Foundation, H-E-B Foundation, and Scout Troop 828. Many thanks to MV Barnes for the amazing mural.
  • The documentary film “Deep in the Heart” shared footage from Bracken Cave and premiered in summer 2024.
  • San Antonio, Texas, won iNaturalist’s International 2025 City Nature Challenge bioblitz with more than 135,000 observations, including 3,500+ from Bracken volunteers.
  • BCI hosted our first bat flight night conducted fully in Spanish.
  • Visitors enjoyed a bat yoga class during a bat flight tour.

Bracken is also a vital living laboratory for research, including:

  • DNA analysis of guano samples to learn which insects Bracken’s bats eat each month.
  • A study focusing on external and internal parasites on Bracken bats (in partnership with University of Oklahoma Ph.D. student Kristin Dyer).

Gardening for Bats

Gardens are a vital resource that provide bats with food and habitat. We created resources to help people build their own bat gardens and partnered with community organizations to develop gardens.

In FY25, we:

  • Expanded our bat garden plant lists to include 13 geographically distinct lists. Read more at batcon.org/batgarden.
  • In Austin and San Antonio, we expanded existing bat gardens and established two new ones. More than 50 volunteers participated in work days, planting more than 300 native plants.
  • Launched a bat garden native plant seed mix for central Texas, in partnership with Native American Seed. More than 1,000 seed packets were distributed.
  • Planted a wildflower meadow of our Bat Garden Seed Mix at the San Antonio Food Bank Farm property.
  • Worked with Calscape to create a list of garden plants that are helpful to bats. The California database at calscape.org now includes 768 plants that are beneficial to bats.
  • Gave 12 talks in person and virtually on Gardening for Bats, reaching 400+ people in California, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas.
  • Joined more than 50 volunteers to plant 40 trees for bats with TreeFolks and Community First! Village, a development of Mobile Loaves & Fishes in Austin.
A retail display features "Bat Garden" wildflower seed packets. Surrounding items include nature books, a donation jar, and "Lights Out, Texas!" flyers.
Special bat garden seed mix packets are on display at the Natural Gardener.
Photo: Erin Cord
A "Bat Garden" sign stands in a freshly mulched garden bed alongside a gray building. A pink door with "BE CURIOUS" text and outdoor seating are visible.
A bat garden at Girlstart.
Photo: Erin Cord
A diverse group of seven people and a dog pose behind a "Bat Garden" sign in a grassy outdoor area under an overcast, cloudy sky.
Volunteers plant native species for bats at a Tamox Talom Food Forest work day.
Photo: Cecile Parrish
“BCI has strengthened our awareness of and care for the bat populations at Community First! Village, generously sharing their knowledge with neighbors, staff, and missionals. This is a partnership we truly cherish, one that has grown from plantings and crafting to bat walks alongside neighbors.”
—Mobile Loaves & Fishes Volunteer Team Member
Two vendors in bee-themed aprons and hats decorated with sunflowers serve a customer at an outdoor market stall featuring honey and nature products.
Volunteers at the Pollinator Tea Party offered pollinator products, including honey and agave nectar.
Photo: San Antonio River Foundation

Developing and Launching Bat Education Curricula

In FY25, we launched a new Learning Resources hub on our website to better support educators and families with engaging, standards-aligned tools. It includes:

  • The “Night Navigators: Build for Bats” VFT with The LEGO Group and Discovery Education.
  • “Deep in the Heart,” a film-based lesson series narrated by Matthew McConaughey featuring Bracken Cave and Texas bat species. This series includes interactive content, hands-on activities, and real-world connections.
  • “Discover Bats” curriculum, which includes 17 Next Generation Science Standards-aligned lesson plans for grades 4–8 in English and Spanish, focused on bat ecology and conservation. This project was funded by IF/THEN, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. It was publicly launched at the 2024 Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching in San Antonio, which was attended by 5,000+ educators.
Learn more: batcon.org/about-bats/learn

Community Partnerships

In FY25, we worked with an array of communities and organizations to create and strengthen powerful partnerships. A sampling of our efforts include:

Partnering for Youth and Community Education

  • Strengthened our partnership with Girlstart in Austin, including hosting a Bat Cruise, several events, and summer programming, reaching 300+ people.
  • Cohosted the Pollinator Tea Party with the San Antonio River Foundation at Confluence Park, with 500+ attendees.
  • Created Bat Detector STEM kits in partnership with H-E-B. and Austin Public Library. Kits include bat detectors, a how-to manual, and kids’ books on bats. They are available for checkout at all 20 Austin Public Library branches.
A close-up shows a "How to Use a Bat Detector" instructional guide alongside books like "The Amazing World of Bats" in an educational kit.
Austin Public Library patrons can now check out bat detecting kits.
Photo: Jenny Stirrat
A close-up of a small brown bat lying flat against a white surface, showing its prominent ears, dark eyes, and delicate wing structure in detail.
A Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus).
Photo: Dustin Smith

Experience Bats

We launched a major expansion of the “Experience” section on our website, including an upgraded interactive bat viewing site map and a new live stream camera at Bracken Cave.
Check it out: batcon.org/experience-bats

Social Media Recognition

A social media post for International Bat Appreciation Day featuring stylized bat illustrations over a split-color background with cacti.
BCI was ranked the No. 1 nonprofit on social media in Rival IQ’s 2024 Nonprofit Social Media Benchmark Report.
Two people wearing face masks work on a large, detailed bat sculpture at a table, applying materials to the head and wing sections.
Students from Austin Youth River Watch work to create the Ms. Batreuse sculpture.
Photo: Erin Cord
“Austin Public Library’s collaboration with BCI has made it possible for Austin families to delve into the world of bats like never before. The Bat Detector STEM kits let families hear and identify bats flying overhead and the included books help the city’s youngest readers learn how to protect Austin’s signature animal.”
—Jenny Stirrat, Austin Public Library School Partnerships Librarian
Close-up of children's hands using colorful crayons to fill in large bat-themed drawings at a crowded outdoor activity table.
Participants make butterfly masks at the Pollinator Tea Party.
Photo: San Antonio River Foundation

Using Art to Educate and Inspire

  • Created the Ms. Batreuse (aka Trash Bat) sculpture with Austin Youth River Watch, Austin Creative ReUse, and artist Joan Cabbarus. More than 20 teens worked with the artist to create the sculpture, which is now seen by 62,000+ people per year.
  • Artist Audrya Flores created a bat sculpture out of bat-related plants for the Pollinator Tea Party Festival. The sculpture and accompanying educational signage were seen by 24,000+ people.

Training Leaders

  • Hosted a summer intern from the University of Texas Home2Texas Program.
  • Hosted an Earthshare Green Leaders Fellow.
  • Trained 55 new Bat Ambassadors from five states to conduct Bat Walks.
An overhead view of two children sitting on a carpeted floor, using markers and scissors to create bat-themed crafts and drawings.
Girlstart campers build their own bat and learn about different adaptations.
Photo: Erin Cord
“BCI has helped Girlstart teach our students all about the importance of bats. They constructed a bat garden in our backyard, led bat-themed activities at community events, and brought empowering guest speakers to talk about the intersection of STEM and bat conservation. They even hosted a bat cruise for our summer campers! We’re excited to continue to partner with BCI to encourage the next generation of bat scientists.”
—Hannah Winkler, Girlstart Strategic Projects Manager

Financial Summary

Statement of
Financial Position

Year ended June 30, 2025
 
As of 06/30/2025
As of 06/30/2024
Assets
Current Assets
Cash & Cash Equivalents
$2,308,806
$3,082,698
Accounts Receivable
$2,177,255
$1,258,045
Prepaid Expenses
$191,208
$192,786
Total Current Assets
$4,677,269
$4,533,529
Property & Equipment, Net
$7,068,628
$7,019,881
Investments
$24,014,710
$25,216,968
Total Assets
$35,760,607
$36,770,378
Liabilities & Net Assets
Current Liabilities
$2,301,961
$1,235,410
Total Liabilities
$2,301,961
$1,235,410
Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions
$9,230,621
$8,841,298
Net Assets With Donor Restrictions
$24,228,025
$26,693,670
Total Net Assets
$33,458,646
$35,534,968
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$35,760,607
$36,770,378

Statement of
functional expenses

Year ended June 30, 2025
 
General & Administrative
Fundraising & Development
Program
Total
Operating Expenses
Salaries & Wages
$268,337
$806,950
$7,147,659
$8,222,945
Contractual Services
$310,333
$33,753
$3,798,195
$4,142,281
Travel & Conferences
$63,239
$10,315
$1,062,901
$1,136,455
Supplies & Equipment
$34,069
$174,352
$1,185,917
$1,394,338
External Grants
—
—
$977,489
$977,489
Marketing
$7,212
$49,052
$92,336
$148,601
Printing & Photo Processing
$853
$26,416
$49,641
$76,910
Bank & Credit Card Fees
$25,021
$67,898
$15,446
$108,365
Communications
$13,525
$5,005
$59,323
$77,853
Staff Development
$43,338
$1,485
$17,290
$62,113
Payroll Service Fees
$38,434
$14,514
$179,915
$232,863
Insurance – General Liability
$16,299
$6,155
$76,596
$99,050
Occupancy
$6,763
$2,554
$36,108
$45,424
Depreciation
—
—
$165,348
$165,348
Total Operating Expenses
$827,422
$1,198,449
$14,864,164
$16,890,035
% of Total Expenses
5%
7%
88%
100%
Statement of<br /> functional expenses

Statement of Activities

Year Ended June 30, 2025
 
Without Donor Restrictions
With Donor Restrictions
Total
REVENUES
Contributions
$2,395,014
$1,117,729
$3,512,743
Grants & Contracts
$8,271,048
—
$8,271,048
Corporate Contracts
$242,393
—
$242,393
Miscellaneous Income
$218,957
—
$218,957
Investment Return, Net
$822,330
$1,746,242
$2,568,572
Total Revenues
$11,949,742
$2,863,970
$14,813,713
Assets Released from Restrictions
$5,329,616
$(5,329,616)
—
Total Revenues & Assets Released from Restrictions
$17,279,359
$(2,465,646)
$14,813,713
Expenses
Program Expenses
Science and Conservation Programs
$13,905,523
—
$13,905,523
Education Programs
$958,641
—
$958,641
Total Program Services
$14,864,164
—
$14,864,164
Support Services
Fundraising and Development
$1,198,449
—
$1,198,449
General and Administrative
$827,422
—
$827,422
Total Support Services
$2,025,871
—
$2,025,871
Total Expenses
$16,890,035
—
$16,890,035
Change in Net Assets
$389,324
$(2,465,646)
$(2,076,322)
Net Assets, Beginning of Year
$8,841,297
$26,693,671
$35,534,968
Net Assets, End of Year
$9,230,621
$24,228,025
$33,458,646
Straw-colored Fruit Bat (Eidolon helvum) climbing down branch
Photo: Steve Gettle/Minden Pictures
A bat hanging upside down from a branch
support

Impact Makers

A Legacy of Imagination and Conservation: Edward Gorey

A bearded man holding a striped fabric, sitting on the floor, against a blue wall background.
Edward Gorey, 1978.
Photo: Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons
In 2025, admirers across the world celebrated what would have been the 100th birthday of artist, writer, and illustrator Edward Gorey, whose eccentric and unforgettable creations continue to inspire generations. Gorey’s unmistakable style blended the whimsical with the macabre, delighting audiences while also inviting them to linger in the spaces between the known and the mysterious.

His affinity for the unusual extended beyond the page. In his lifetime, Gorey held a deep fascination for the natural world and the overlooked creatures that quietly shape it. That passion lives on today through The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, which has been a steadfast supporter of BCI for over a decade.

Like Gorey’s illustrations, bats invite us to look closer, to see past the surface and discover beauty, complexity, and importance in unexpected places. The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust has enabled critical habitat protection, expanded research programs, and inspired new generations to see bats not as creatures to fear, but as animals of wonder and ecological importance.

The foundation marked the centennial with a year-long “Edward Gorey at 100” celebration. Exhibitions, events, and publications paid tribute to Gorey’s remarkable body of work and his enduring cultural influence.

“Mr. Gorey’s support for the overlooked and underappreciated is evident through his work and his will,” says Raquel Serebrenik, Consultant to The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust. “His art sparked curiosity for the unusual among audiences worldwide, while his heart was drawn to creatures like bats—mysterious, essential, and too often misunderstood. His legacy lives on in the wonder they inspire and in the conservation efforts that protect them.”

For BCI, this partnership represents more than financial support. It reflects a kinship of values—an appreciation for the mysterious beauty of life, the importance of protecting that which others may overlook, and the conviction that creativity and conservation can spark lasting change. Every roost protected, every species safeguarded, and every new advocate for bats carries forward Gorey’s spirit of wonder.

Gorey’s centennial reminds us that creativity and conservation are not separate pursuits, but part of the same call to pay attention, care deeply, and act. BCI is proud to be part of his enduring legacy.

Partnering with Zoo Miami to Save the Rarest Bat in the U.S.

A wooden bat house on a pole near a waterway under a partly cloudy sky.
This newly installed double-chambered rocketbox was specifically made for Florida bonneted bats, with a design based on the Bat Lab’s research, including placement more than 20 feet in the air.
Photo: Miami Bat Lab
When BCI first joined forces with Zoo Miami to save the rarest bat in the U.S.—the federally Endangered Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus)—not much was known about the species in urban landscapes. Since the bat’s native pine rocklands habitat was largely destroyed due to urban development, we knew Florida bonneted bats adapted to the urban environment, finding places to roost and utilizing a key foraging ground near Zoo Miami. However, there was still a lot to learn, so we teamed up to learn more about the species and protect the bat and its vital habitat.

In FY25, we conducted the first GPS study of Florida bonneted bats in an urban environment, tagging more than 40 individual bats to learn about their movement patterns, including flight corridors and feeding locations. This information is critical to continue working on our conservation strategy for the species in Miami-Dade County and other urban settings.

However, our partnership to save the rarest bat in the U.S. began years earlier. In 2019, BCI partnered with Zoo Miami to establish the Miami Bat Lab, which focuses on Florida bonneted bat research. The lab’s acoustic monitoring program across Miami-Dade County has recorded more than 15 million bat calls, showing how the bats utilize urban landscapes.

Since they have a 20-inch wingspan, Florida bonneted bats have specialized roosting requirements—including elevated roosting locations—which can be difficult for them to find in an urban area. The Bat Lab set out to develop and install custom artificial roosts (“bat houses”) in strategic locations across Zoo Miami and around the metro area. In a few short years, over 200 Florida bonneted bats are now using the new structures, which created the largest known population of the species in the world.

This year, we also expanded our artificial roost program, adding 10 additional roots and replacing deteriorated roosts (originally installed in 2018) with a new and improved design.

However, developers sought to transform an area of county land near the zoo into a water park, and concerned residents spoke out to save the vital habitat for the Florida bonneted bat and other species. In March 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated critical habitat for the Florida bonneted bat, including the foraging area near Zoo Miami. Ultimately, plans for the water park were cancelled, but the species still requires vocal conservationists to save it. In 2025, Zoo Miami and BCI were honored alongside several other conservation organizations by the USFWS as Recovery Champions.

Threats like habitat loss, light pollution, hurricanes, and climate-driven change still demand urgent action. That is why the Miami Bat Lab will expand monitoring, continue refining artificial roost designs, and work with land managers and neighbors to keep vital habitat dark and open to save these incredible bats.

Bats emerge from Bracken Cave.
Photo: Loveleigh Photos

Support

We extend our gratitude to the partners worldwide who supported our bat conservation efforts from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

  • Foundation

    2004 Carita Foundation Inc.

  • Anderson-Rogers Foundation
  • The Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Foundation
  • The Ashland Foundation
  • BAND Foundation
  • Barrett Family Foundation
  • The Batchelor Foundation
  • The Berglund Family Foundation
  • The Brown Foundation, Inc.
  • Burt Family Foundation
  • Carroll Petrie Foundation
  • The Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation
  • Charles E. Bartberger and Gretchen M. Platt Family Foundation
  • The Darrell & Patricia Steagall Family Foundation
  • Edward Gorey Charitable Trust
  • The Environmental Fund of Texas
  • The Frank Cross Foundation
  • Gendler Teich Family Charitable Fund
  • Head and Heart Foundation
  • The Hulebak-Rodricks Foundation
  • Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation
  • James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation
  • Judd Foundation
  • Kathryn Davis Grado Foundation
  • The Lawrence and Sylvia Wong Foundation, Inc.
  • Leo Model Foundation Inc
  • The Nancy Wood Moorman Foundation
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • The Negaunee Foundation
  • Nycticorax nycticorax Fund
  • The Oristaglio Family Foundation
  • The Pattee Foundation Inc.
  • Penn Family Charitable Fund
  • PeopleForBikes Foundation
  • Read Foundation
  • RLH Foundation
  • Robert McLean Foundation Trust
  • The Shared Earth Foundation
  • Singing Field Foundation
  • The Thomas C. and Mary Ann Hays Family Charitable Trust
  • The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation
  • Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation
  • Walter C. Emery Family Foundation
  • Western Colorado Community Foundation
  • The White Pine Fund
  • William Howard Flowers, Jr. Foundation, Inc.
  • Wold Foundation
  • Xavier Cortada Foundation

  • Corporate

    Ameren Corporation

  • The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
  • Carlton Fields
  • DeTect, Inc.
  • Discovery Education
  • DocuSign
  • Freeport-McMoRan
  • Google Matching Gifts Program
  • H-E-B
  • The LEGO Group
  • Native American Seed
  • Natural Bridge Caverns
  • New Leaf Climate Partners
  • Noise Engineering
  • PayPal
  • Raise Design
  • Saildrone
  • The Standard
  • Stantec
  • Texas Haunters Group LLC

  • Government & Organization

    A Rocha

  • Abilene Zoological Society
  • ABQ Backyard Refuge Program
  • African Parks
  • Akron Zoological Park
  • Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife
  • Alterd Alternativas para el Desarrollo, A.C.
  • American Association of Zoo Keepers Roger Williams Park Zoo Chapter
  • Amigos de la Sierra, A.C.
  • Anacostia Watershed Society
  • Angaza Vijiji
  • Angelo State University
  • Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project
  • Arizona Game and Fish Department
  • Arizona Land and Water Trust
  • Arizona Master Naturalists
  • Aromas y Flores del Desierto
  • Asesores en Planeación de Sistemas Socioambientales, S.C.
  • Asociación de Mujeres del Bacanora y Maguey de México
  • Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
  • Austin Creative Reuse
  • Austin Public Library
  • Austin Youth River Watch
  • Bacanora Siete Coronados
  • Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative
  • Bats Northwest
  • Battus
  • Bernalillo County Master Naturalists
  • Bioconciencia, A.C.
  • The Biodiversity Consultancy
  • Biodiversity Research Institute
  • Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
  • BirdLife International
  • Bisbee Bloomers
  • Blooming with Birdie
  • Boise State University
  • Bonnet House
  • Borderlands Restoration Network
  • Broward County Parks and Recreation
  • California Department of Conservation
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Marine Sanctuary Foundation
  • California Native Plant Society
  • Center for Biological Diversity
  • Centro de Colaboración para la Ciencia y Cultura
  • Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cavernas
  • Chelenzo Farms
  • Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute
  • CIIDIR Unidad Durango, Instituto Politécnico Nacional
  • City of Alpine, Texas
  • City of Bisbee, Arizona
  • Colectivo Caminantes del Desierto, A.C.
  • Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety Inactive Mines Reclamation Program
  • 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
  • Comunidad Santo Domingo Ocotitlán
  • Conference on Wind and Wildlife Science Advisory Committee
  • Consejo Sonorense Regulador del Bacanora
  • Conservation Evidence
  • Conservation Metrics, Inc
  • Consultoría, Asesoría y Manejo Estratégico, S.C.
  • Convention of Migratory Species Energy Task Force
  • Corporación Autónoma Regional de las Cuencas de los Ríos Negro y Nare
  • Cuántico – Global Eco Services
  • Cuenca Los Ojos
  • Dahari
  • Dallas Zoological Society
  • Detroit Zoological Society
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
  • Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWF
  • Doña Ana Village Association
  • Douglas-Hart Nature Center
  • EarthShare
  • EarthShare of Texas
  • Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition
  • 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 Native Plant Society
  • El Paso Zoo
  • Electric Power Research Institute
  • Endangered Species Coalition
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Environmentally Endangered Lands Program – Miami Dade County
  • EspacioNaturalArq
  • Especies, Sociedad y Hábitat, A.C.
  • Expanded Learning Consultants
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
  • Fiesta Youth
  • Florida Bat Working Group
  • Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Fondo Agavero
  • Gila Native Plant Society
  • Gila Watershed Partnership
  • Girlstart
  • Global Rewilding Alliance
  • Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks
  • Green Spaces Alliance
  • Guinée Écologie
  • Henry Villas Zoo
  • High Desert Native Plants
  • Hill Country Conservancy
  • Hogan Lovells
  • I Am A Scientist
  • The Institute of Jamaica
  • Instituto de Ecología-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature
  • Jacksonville Zoological Society
  • The Jamaican Caves Organization
  • James Bonham Academy
  • Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
  • Kartchner Caverns State Park
  • Karuk Tribe
  • Kenya Forest Services
  • Kenya Wildlife Services
  • Kocurek Elementary School
  • Laboratório de Ciência em Biodiversidade
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  • Laguna de Sánchez, Nuevo León
  • Las Cruces Native Plant Society
  • Las Milpitas Community Farm
  • Latino Outdoors
  • The LEAF Charity
  • Lick Creek State Park
  • Lion Country Safari
  • Los Angeles County Natural History Museum
  • Lubee Bat Conservancy
  • Maasai Mara University
  • Malpai Borderlands Group
  • Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
  • Miami Blue Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association
  • Miami Pine Rocklands Coalition
  • Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
  • Milwaukee County Zoo
  • Missouri State University
  • Mitchell Lake Audubon
  • Mobile Loaves & Fishes
  • Nakanacagi Village
  • National Environment and Planning Agency, Jamaica
  • National Park Service
  • National Parks Conservation Association
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • The National Trust of Fiji
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Native Plant Society of New Mexico
  • The Natural Gardener
  • The Natural History Museum of Jamaica
  • Naturalia, A.C.
  • Nature Based Solutions Sdn. Bhd
  • The Nature Conservancy of Texas
  • Nature Conservation Foundation
  • NatureFiji-MareqetiViti
  • Nevada Department of Wildlife
  • Nevada State Parks
  • New Mexico Bureau of Land Management
  • New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • New Mexico State University
  • North American Bat Conservation Alliance
  • North American Bat Monitoring Program
  • North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
  • North American Society for Bat Research
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Oregon State University
  • Palmetto Bay Garden Club
  • Palo Alto Escuela Americana
  • Parque Ecológico Chipinque
  • Parques y Vida Silvestre de Nuevo León
  • Pennsylvania Game Commission
  • Polinizador Social para la Conservación y Empoderamiento Rural A.C.
  • Pollinatives
  • Pollinator Partnership
  • Polly Ground Community
  • PROFAUNA, A.C.
  • Programa para la Conservación de Murciélagos de Colombia
  • Programa para la Conservación de Murciélagos de México
  • Programa para la Conservación de Murciélagos de Perú
  • Pronatura Noreste, A.C.
  • Protección Civil Estatal Morelos
  • Protect Paradise
  • Pueblo of Santa Ana
  • Rancho La Rita
  • Red de Zonas de Restauración Ecológica del Lobo Mexicano
  • Reef Check Malaysia
  • Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind
  • Renewable Energy Research Institute
  • Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute
  • RESPEC
  • Rio Bravo Restoration
  • Rutgers University – Newark
  • Rwanda Development Board
  • Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association
  • Salazar Center for North American Conservation
  • Sallqa Perú
  • San Antonio Audubon Society
  • San Antonio BCycle
  • San Antonio Food Bank
  • San Antonio River Foundation
  • San Antonio Zoo
  • San Carlos Apache Tribe
  • San Diego River Park Foundation
  • Secretaría de Medio Ambiente e Historia Natural Chiapas
  • Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve
  • Sew What Club of Portal, Arizona
  • Shield Ranch/El Ranchito
  • Sierra Club
  • Sky Island Alliance
  • Sociedade Brasileira para o Estudo de Quirópteros
  • Southeastern Louisiana University
  • Stewards of the Wild Austin Chapter
  • Strategic Habitat Enhancements
  • Sul Ross State University
  • Tamox Talom Food Forest
  • Tandem Global
  • Tejocote, Nuevo León
  • Tepoztlán, Morelos
  • Terrasos
  • Texas Master Naturalists
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • Texas State University
  • La Tierra del Jaguar
  • Travis County Natural Resources
  • TreeFolks
  • Trinidad Coastal Land Trust
  • Trinity University
  • 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. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
  • U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • U.S. Geological Society
  • U.S. Geological Society Ecological Research Center
  • 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
  • Universidad Federal de Pernambuco
  • University of Central Oklahoma
  • University of Hyderabad
  • University of Oklahoma
  • University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
  • University of Tennessee – Knoxville
  • University of Vienna
  • Utah Army National Guard
  • Virginia Master Naturalists
  • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • West Los Angeles College
  • Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc.
  • Whiskey Creek Zócalo
  • White-nose Syndrome Response Team
  • Wildflower Farm and Garden
  • Wildlife Conservation Society
  • Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism Academy
  • Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Abandoned Mine Land Division
  • Young Women’s Leadership Academy
  • Yunkawasi
  • Yurok Tribe
  • Zoo Miami

  • LEGACY CIRCLE

    We are honored to recognize the individuals who chose to include Bat Conservation International in their estate plans between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Their foresight and generosity will leave a lasting legacy, ensuring the protection of bats and their habitats for generations to come.

  • Gwen Christopher
  • Tammy Clark
  • Lorraine Corso
  • Susan Hohman
  • Lauren McWilliams
  • Tony Merola
  • Bruce Miller
  • Katja Mocnik
  • Krystine Rousseau
  • Donald Seitz
  • Leo Clint Snead, Jr.
  • Mya Starling
  • Ray and Joyce Watkins
Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus).
Photo: Jennifer Barros , Ph.D.

Leadership Team

  • Board of Directors

    Andrew Sansom, Ph.D. Chair

  • Eileen Arbues Vice Chair
  • Danielle Gustafson Treasurer
  • Ann George Secretary
  • Gerald Carter, Ph.D.
  • Alexander R. “Sandy” Read
  • Nancy Simmons, Ph.D.
  • Gary Dreyzin
  • Shahroukh Mistry, Ph.D.
  • Jenn Stephens
  • Cecily Read
  • Alison Greenberg

  • Science Advisory Committee

    Luis Aguirre, Ph.D.

  • Enrico Bernard, Ph.D.
  • Sara Bumrungsri, Ph.D.
  • Gerald Carter, Ph.D.
  • Charles Chester, Ph.D.
  • Liliana Dávalos, Ph.D.
  • Brock Fenton, Ph.D.
  • Tigga Kingston, Ph.D.
  • Gary McCracken, Ph.D.
  • Stuart Parsons, Ph.D.
  • Paul Racey, Ph.D.
  • Danilo Russo, Ph.D.
  • Nancy Simmons, Ph.D.
  • Paul Webala, Ph.D.

  • Senior Leadership

    Mike Daulton Executive Director

  • Michael Nakamoto Chief Operations Officer
  • Mylea Bayless Chief of Strategic Partnerships
  • Winifred Frick, Ph.D. Chief Scientist
  • Kevin Pierson Chief of Conservation and Global Strategy
Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus).
Photo: Jennifer Barros , Ph.D.
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