A Conservation Study on Pittsburgh’s
Little Brown Bats
The Challenge
Little brown bats are a threatened species due to white nose syndrome (WNS), a deadly fungal disease that has killed over 90% of their population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now considering listing them as an endangered species. With urban development continuing to destroy their habitat, there’s an urgent need to understand what makes good bat habitat in city environments so we can protect this important pollinator and pest-control species.
Research Methods
Species Surveys
Surveying land transects across 5 regional parks in Pittsburgh, PA.
Tree Surveys
Tree identification along land transects, documenting species, diameter, decay stage, and any tree cavity that could serve as bat roosts.
GPS Mapping
Mapping to document distances to nearby water sources, since bats rely on water for hunting insects and drinking.
Key Findings
Urban parks can successfully support threatened and endangered bat populations when properly managed with the right tree species and water access.
- 3 Pittsburgh parks (Highland Park, Emerald View Park, and Riverview Park) provide suitable habitat for little brown bats.
- Little brown bats showed a preference for large diameter oak and pine trees in intermediate decay stages. These factors are ideal for bat roosting.
- Little brown bats require close proximity to water sources for foraging. The combination of tree preference and proximity to water determines the preferred habitat for the little brown bat.
About the Researcher
Hannah Reed
MPS in Wildlife Conservation and Management
Research Focus
Habitat assessment and conservation plan for the little brown bat.
Background
“I aspire to protect wildlife, so this project exactly aligns with my goals of developing ways to protect wildlife.”
Why I Chose Unity
“I have always had a love and passion for animals and knew that I wanted to work with them. Unity’s fully online master’s program caught my eye because I could do it from home and still work and grow my family.”
Capstone Collaborator
Ryan Mahoney
Conservation Biologist
Gotham Bat Conservancy
Partnering for Impact
Ryan, a Unity alumnus, shared his thoughts on this collaboration: “We’re very excited about Hannah’s work as she is introducing a new area of research to our tenderloin and roost ecology research: tree decay state. This important datum for a variety of bat species that we research and work to conserve.”
Organization Mission
Gotham Bat Conservancy champions the conservation and restoration of bat habitats in the wake of environmental challenges. With a deep commitment to the natural world and a passion for preserving biodiversity, we strive to create a brighter future for bats and the ecosystems they inhabit. Through scientific research, sustainable development planning, education, and community engagement, we work tirelessly to protect and promote these vital species and to inspire others to join us in our mission.
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