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).

    The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

    Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
    Post-Construction Avian Monitoring Study for the Shiloh I Wind Power Project Solano County, California Year One Final Report Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Fischer, B., Hasch, A., Wilkerson, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Passerines, Birds, Bats
    Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity at a Proposed Wind Facility in Northwest Massachusetts: 2006 Annual Report Arnett, E., Huso, M., Reynolds, D., Schirmacher, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
    Ecological Baseline Studies for the Hatchet Ridge Wind Energy Project, Shasta County, California Young, D. Jr., Johnson, G., Poulton, V., Bay, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Ecological Impacts of Wind Energy Development on Bats: Questions, Research Needs, and Hypotheses Kunz, T., Arnett, E., Erickson, W., Hoar, A., Johnson, G., Larkin, R., Stickland, M., Thresher, R., Tuttle, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Bats
    First records of dead bats (Chiroptera) from wind farms in Croatia Zagmajster, M., Jancar, T., Mlakar, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Results of Bat and Bird Mortality Monitoring at the Expanded Buffalo Mountain Windfarm, 2005 Fiedler, J., Henry, T., Tankersley, R. Jr., Nicholson, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Passerines, Birds, Bats
    Annual Report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project Post-construction Bird and Bat Fatality Study - 2006 Jain, A., Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Slobodnik, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    The Possible Effects of Wind Energy on Illinois Birds and Bats Illinois Department of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Waterfowl, Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Biglow Canyon Wind Farm: Wildlife Monitoring and Mitigation Plan Portland General Electric Company, Oregon Department of Energy Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
    Puget Sound Energy Hopkins Ridge Wind Project Phase 1 Post-Construction Avian and Bat Monitoring First Annual Report Young, D. Jr., Erickson, W., Jeffrey, J., Poulton, V. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Passerines, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds, Bats
    Development of a Cost-Effective System to Monitor Wind Turbines for Bird and Bat Collisions Phase I: Sensor System Feasibility Study Pandey, A., Hermence, J., Harness, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Proceedings of the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup Research Planning Meeting VI Schwartz, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Post-construction monitoring report for avian and bat mortality at the NPPD Ainsworth Wind Farm Derby, C., Dahl, A., Erickson, W., Bay, K., Hoban, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Protocol for Investigating Displacement Effects of Wind Facilities on Grassland Songbirds Erickson, W., Strickland, D., Shaffer, J., Johnson, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Passerines, Birds, Bats
    Summer-Fall 2006 Bat Detector Survey and Two-year Summary at the Proposed Deerfield Wind Project in Searsburg and Readsboro, Vermont Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Spring 2006 Bird and Bat Migration Surveys at the Proposed Deerfield Wind Project in Searsburg and Readsboro, Vermont Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    A Preliminary Evaluation on the Use of Dogs to Recover Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities Arnett, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Summer 2006 Indiana Bat Surveys at the Proposed Clayton Wind Project in Clayton, New York Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    The impact of repowering of wind farms on birds and bats Hötker, H. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Monitoring of Bird and Bat Collisions with Wind Turbines at the Summerview Wind Power Project, Alberta 2005-2006 Brown, W., Hamilton, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Preliminary Field Test Results of an Acoustic Deterrent with the Potential to Reduce Bat Mortality from Wind Turbines Szewczak, J., Arnett, E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity at a Proposed Wind Facility in South-Central Pennsylvania Arnett, E., Hayes, J., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats
    Bird and Bat Migration over Appalachian Ridges Progress Report, August 2006 Dawson, D., Jones, T., Mabey, S., Mizrahi, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Patterns of Pre-Construction Bat Activity Determined Using Acoustic Monitoring at a Proposed Wind Facility in South-Central Wisconsin Redell, D., Arnett, E., Hayes, J., Huso, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats
    Bird and Bat Interactions With Wind Turbines Castle River Wind Farm, Alberta, 2001-2002 Brown, W., Hamilton, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Bird and Bat Species and Risks to Diurnal Migrants on the Clipper Windpower Criterion Project, Backbone Mountain, Garrett County, Maryland Gates, J., Kerns, J., Lott, K., Johnson, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Ultrasound Emissions from Wind Turbines as a Potential Attractant to Bats: A Preliminary Investigation Szewczak, J., Arnett, E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Diablo Winds Wildlife Monitoring Progress Report, March 2005 - February 2006 Western Ecosystems Technology Inc (WEST) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Post-Construction Avian and Bat Fatality Monitoring Study for the High Winds Wind Power Project Solano County, California: Two Year Report Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Jain, A., Wilkerson, C., Fischer, B., Hasch, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Terrestrial Mammals, Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Survey of Possible Operational Impacts on Bats by Wind Facilities in Southern Germany Brinkmann, R., Schauer-Weisshahn, H. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Monitoring the Potential Impact of A Wind Development Site on Bats in the Northeast Reynolds, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Generation Facility: Habitat Conservation Plan Kaheawa Wind Power Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
    Comprehensive Renewable Energy Feasibility Study for Sealaska Corporation: Report September 2002 through December 2005 Lynette, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    A Fall 2005 Radar, Visual, and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Clayton Wind Project: Draft Report Woodlot Alternatives Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Raptors
    A Fall 2005 Radar and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Deerfield Wind Project in Searsburg and Readsboro, Vermont Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    A Spring 2005 Radar, Visual, and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Deerfield Wind Project in Searsburg and Readsboro, Vermont Roy, R., Pelletier, S. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Battered by harsh winds - must bats pay the price for wind energy? Tuttle, M. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Attraction Bats
    Birds and Bats: Potential Impacts and Survey Techniques Global Energy Concepts Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Avian and Bat Studies for the Proposed Dairy Hills Wind Project, Wyoming County, New York Young, D. Jr., Nations, C., Poulton, V., Kerns, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Raptors
    A Conservation Plan for Bats in Wyoming Hester, S., Grenier, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
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