Summary of Bats and Land-Based Wind Energy Development in the United States and Canada

Hoary Bat

Deployment of wind energy over the past 20 years has increased renewable energy generation, but also raised concerns regarding the impact of wind turbine collisions on certain bat species (Friedenberg and Frick 2021). In 2012, the estimated number of bat fatalities from wind energy development in the United States and Canada ranged from 196,190 to 395,886 (Arnett and Baerwald 2013). The installed capacity across the two countries at the time was approximately 66,000 megawatts. Since then, the installed capacity of wind energy has more than doubled (Rand et al. 2020); therefore, the number of annual bat fatalities has likely increased as well.

A total of 22 species of bats have been reported as fatalities at wind energy facilities in the United States and Canada (American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020). Migratory tree-roosting species, including the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), constitute approximately 72% of bat carcasses reported, but other species, such as the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), can make up a significant portion of fatalities in the southern United States (Arnett and Baerwald 2013; Zimmerling and Francis 2016; American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020; Weaver et al. 2020). Wind turbines are also known to cause fatalities of federally endangered species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northeastern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus), but occurrences are relatively rare (Erickson et al. 2016; Gorresen et al. 2020). Differences in behavior, abundance, and other factors likely contribute to the variability in fatality rates among bat species.

Data on relative age and sex of individual carcasses is inconclusive as it is difficult to determine this information from many of the carcasses that are recovered during searches (Korstian et al. 2013; Nelson et al. 2018; Chipps et al. 2020). The lack of demographic data for many bat species makes it difficult to assess the potential population-level impacts of wind turbines. Given that many species have a small population and slow growth rate, it has become increasingly important to better understand the long-term impact of wind energy on certain species of bats (Barclay and Harder 2003; Kunz et al. 2007; Russell et al. 2014; Frick et al. 2017; Friedenberg and Frick 2021).

    Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
    Advancing bat monitoring: Assessing the impact of unmanned aerial systems on bat activity Roswag, M., Roswag, A., Roswag, M., Fietz, J., Taefi, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Wind turbines displace bats from drinking sites Scholz, C., Klein, H., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Bats
    The trans-european catchment area of common noctule bats killed by wind turbines in France Merlet, M., Soto, D., Arthur, L., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    A modeling framework for biodiversity assessment in renewable energy development: A case study on European bats and wind turbines Froidevaux, J., Le Viol, I., Barre, K., Bas, Y., Kerbiriou, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
    A passive, blade-mounted ultrasonic bat deterrent for wind turbines Zeng, Z., Huang, S., Alexander, W., Sharma, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Design of a Launcher for Wildlife Collision Simulation on Wind Turbines to Validate Strike Detection Systems Roadman, J., Goldhor, R., Hein, C., Ivanov, C., Rooney, S. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    A decade of curtailment studies demonstrates a consistent and effective strategy to reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines in North America Whitby, M., O'Mara, M., Hein, C., Huso, M., Frick, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Flight behaviour of Red Kites within their breeding area in relation to local weather variables: Conclusions with regard to wind turbine collision mitigation Aschwanden, J., Stark, H., Liechti, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Potential for spatial coexistence of a transboundary migratory species and wind energy development Huang, T-K., Feng, X., Derbridge, J., Libby, K., Diffendorfer, J., Thogmartin, W., McCracken, G., Medellin, R., Lopez-Hoffman, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Context-dependent effects of wind turbines on bats in rural landscapes Sotillo, A., Le Viol, I., Barre, K., Bas, Y., Kerbiriou, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
    Global Review on Environmental Impacts of Onshore Wind Energy and Their Implications for Forest Ecosystems Sander, L., Jung, C., Schindler, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
    Global Review on Environmental Impacts of Onshore Wind Energy in the Field of Tension between Human Societies and Natural Systems Sander, L., Jung, C., Schindler, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
    Detection and validation of common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) with a pulse radar and acoustic monitoring in the proximity of an onshore wind turbine Krapivnitckaia, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Regulations for Bat Protection in Mexico's Wind Farms Uribe, M., Aguilera, J., Villada-Canela, M., Peynador, C., Briones-Salas, M., Hein, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
    Distribution of common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) activity is altered by airflow disruption generated by wind turbines Leroux, C., Barre, K., Valet, N., Kerbiriou, C., Le Viol, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance Bats
    Concurrent challenges for Switzerland: interfaces in climate action, biodiversity conservation, energy security and landscape preservation Brunner, C., Lordan-Perret, R., Cadelli, E., Salzmann, N., Karger, D.K., Zimmermann, N.E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Accounting for the Fraction of Carcasses Outside the Searched Area in the Estimation of Bird and Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities Dalthorp, D., Huso, M., Dalthorp, M., Mintz, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Toward solving the global green–green dilemma between wind energy production and bat conservation Voigt, C., Bernard, E., Huang, J., Frick, W., Kerbiriou, C., MacEwan, K., Mathews, F., Rodríguez-Durán, A., Scholz, C., Webala, P., Welbergen, J., Whitby, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Bats
    A three-dimensional model of terrain-induced updrafts for movement ecology studies Thedin, R., Brandes, D., Quon, E., Sandhu, R., Tripp, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Changes in Flow Bats, Birds
    Wind energy development can lead to guild-specific habitat loss in boreal forest bats McKay, R., Johns, S., Bischof, R., Matthews, F., van der Kooij, J., Yoh, N., Eldegard, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
    DRAFT Habitat Conservation Plan Alliant Energy Nine Wind Projects in Minnesota and Iowa Alliant Energy Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Does size matter? Investigation of the effect of wind turbine size on bird and bat mortality Garvin, J., Simonis, J., Taylor, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Geographic source of bats killed at wind-energy facilities in the eastern United States Wieringa, J., Nagel, J., Campbell, C., Nelson, D., Carstens, B., Gibbs, H. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Hawaiian Hoary Bat Guidance for Wind Energy Project Habitat Conservation Plans Endangered Species Recovery Committee, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Localized Eco-Climatic Impacts of Onshore Wind Farms: A Review Ze, J., Xiuchun, Y., Ang, C. , Dong, Y., Min, Z., Lunda, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Physical Environment
    A multisensory approach to understanding bat responses to wind energy developments Jonasson, K., Adams, A., Brokaw, A., Whitby, M., O'Mara, M., Frick, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Experimental trials of species-specific bat flight responses to an ultrasonic deterrent Fritts, S., Guest, E., Weaver, S., Hale, A., Morton, B., Hein, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Forest bat activity declines with increasing wind speed in proximity of operating wind turbines Ellerbrok, J., Farwig, N., Peter, F., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Noise Bats
    Die Auswirkungen von Windenergieanlagen an Waldstandorten auf Fledermäuse Voigt, C., Scholz, C., Ellerbrok, J., Melber, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Numbers of wildlife fatalities at renewable energy facilities in a targeted development region Conkling, T., Fesnock, A., Katzner, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Understanding fatality patterns and sex ratios of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) at wind energy facilities in western California and Texas LiCari, S., Hale, A., Weaver, S., Fritts, S., Katzner, T., Nelson, D., Williams, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Grand Challenges Revisited: Wind Energy Research Needs for a Global Energy Transition Veers, P., Dykes, K., Baranowski, R., Bay, C., Bortolotti, P., Doubrawa, P., MacDonald, S., Rooney, S., Bottasso, C., Fleming, P., Haupt, S., Hale, A., Hein, C., Robertson, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Noise Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
    How far are birds, bats, and terrestrial mammals displaced from onshore wind power development? – A systematic review Tolvanen, A., Routavaara, H., Jokikokko, M., Rana, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Bats, Birds, Terrestrial Mammals
    Assessing Areas for Interactions between Tricolored Bats and Wind Energy Facilities Rodriguez, R., Robbins, J., Quillen, J. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Disentangling mechanisms responsible for wind energy effects on European bats Leroux, C., Le Viol, I., Valet, N., Kerbiriou, C., Barre, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    BatTool: projecting bat populations facing multiple stressors using a demographic model Wiens, A., Schorg, A., Szymanski, J., Thogmartin, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Bats
    Wind turbine power and land cover effects on cumulative bat deaths Moustakas, A., Georgiakakis, P., Kret, E., Kapsalis, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Post-construction Bird and Bat Fatality Monitoring for Onshore Wind Energy Facilities in Emerging Market Countries: Good Practice Handbook and Decision Support Tool International Finance Corporation Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions
    Bat Smart Curtailment: Efficacy and Operational Testing Vallejo, G., Saywers, D., Rodriguez, R., Quillen, J., Denman, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Seasonal patterns of bird and bat collision fatalities at wind turbines Lloyd, J., Butryn, R., Pearman-Gillman, S., Allison, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
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