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
    Mitigating biodiversity impacts associated with solar and wind energy development: guidelines for project developers Bennun, L., van Bochove, J., Ng, C., Fletcher, C., Wilson, D., Phair, N., Carbone, G. Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
    Passive Ultrasonic Deterrents to Reduce Bat Mortality in Wind Farms Sharma, A. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision Bats
    Mono-specific forest plantations are valuable bat habitats: implications for wind energy development Buchholz, S., Kelm, V., Ghanem, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Estimating bat fatality at a Texas wind energy facility: implications transcending the United States–Mexico border Weaver, S., Jones, A., Hein, C., Castro-Arellano, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Local trends in abundance of migratory bats across 20 years Green, D., McGuire, L., Vanderwel, M., Willis, C., Noakes, M., Bohn, S., Green, E., Brigham, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Environmental Impact Assessment
    Ultrasonic acoustic deterrents significantly reduce bat fatalities at wind turbines Weaver, S., Hein, C., Simpson, T., Evans, J., Castro-Arellano, I. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    AWWI Technical Report: 2nd Edition: Summary of Bat Fatality Monitoring Data Contained in AWWIC Allison, T., Butryn, R. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Enabling Renewable Energy While Protecting Wildlife: An Ecological Risk-Based Approach to Wind Energy Development Using Ecosystem-Based Management Values Copping, A., Gorton, A., May, R., Bennet, F., DeGeorge, E., Goncalves, M., Rumes, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
    Comparing methods to estimate the proportion of turbine-induced bird and bat mortality in the search area under a road and pad search protocol Maurer, J., Huso, M., Dalthorp, D., Madsen, L., Fuentes, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Transcontinental 2200 km migration of a Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) across Europe Alcalde, J., Jiménez, M., Brila, I., Vintulis, V., Voigt, C., Petersons, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    The Wildlife Sensitivity Mapping Manual: Practical guidance for renewable energy planning in the European Union Allinson, T., Jobson, B., Crowe, O., Lammerant, J., Van Den Bossche, W., Badoz, I. Guidance Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Marine Mammals
    Factors affecting carcass detection at wind farms using dogs and human searchers del Valle, J., Peralta, F., Arjona, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Evidenzbasierter Fledermausschutz in Windkraftvorhaben Voigt, C. Book Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    An evaluation of bird and bat mortality at wind turbines in the Northeastern United States Choi, D., Wittig, T., Kluever, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Summer day-roost selection by eastern red bats varies between areas with different land-use histories Monarchino, M., Behan, M., Johnson, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
    Testing and Evaluation of "SafeWind" A Bird Protection System Soni, B., Loske, K., Lackmann, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Bat activity and evidence of bat migration at two high elevation passes in the Western Alps Caprio, E., Patriarca, E., Debernardi, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance Bats
    Dogs detect larger wind energy effects on bats and birds Smallwood, K., Bell, D., Standish, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Bat Activity Rates do not Predict Bat Fatality Rates at Wind Energy Facilities Solick, D., Pham, D., Nasman, K., Bay, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Glucocorticoid profiles in frugivorous bats on wind farms in the Mexican tropics Medina-Cruz, G., Salame-Méndez, A., Briones-Salas, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    A review of the major threats and challenges to global bat conservation Frick, W., Kingston, T., Flanders, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) behavior at wind turbines on Maui Gorresen, P., Cryan, P., Tredinnick, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Reducing Bat Fatalities Using Ultrasonic Acoustic Deterrent Technology: A Potential Mechanism for Conservation at Offshore Wind Energy Sites O'Neil, D. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds
    Landscape Factors Associated with Fatalities of Migratory Tree-Roosting Bats at Wind Energy Facilities: An Initial Assessment Peters, K., Evans, I., Traiger, E., Collins, J., Mathews, C., Klehr, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    South African Bat Fatality Threshold Guidelines: Edition 3 MacEwan, K., Aronson, J., Richardson, K., Taylor, P., Coverdale, B., Jacobs, D., Leeuwner, L., Marais, W., Richards, L. Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Population-Level Risk to Hoary Bats Amid Continued Wind Energy Development: Assessing Fatality Reduction Targets Under Broad Uncertainty Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Post -Construction Monitoring Studies for the Headwaters Wind Farm Randolph County, Indiana Rodriguez, M., Tredennick, A., DuBridge, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Learning from Real-World Experience to Understand Renewable Energy Impacts to Wildlife Conkling, T., Vander Zanden, H., Poessel, S., Loss, S., Allison, T., Diffendorfer, J., Duerr, A., Nelson, D., Yee, J., Katzner, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Assessing population‐level consequences of anthropogenic stressors for terrestrial wildlife Katzner, T., Braham, M., Conkling, T., Diffendorfer, J., Duerr, A., Loss, S., Nelson, D., Vander Zanden, H., Yee, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Ultrasonic Acoustic Deterrent in Reducing Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities - Final Technical Report Schirmacher, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Effects of Wind Turbine Curtailment on Bird and Bat Fatalities Smallwood, K., Bell, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Relating Bat Passage Rates to Wind Turbine Fatalities Smallwood, K., Bell, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Estimates of aerial vertebrate mortality at wind farms in a bird migration corridor and bat diversity hotspot Cabrera-Cruz, S., Cervantes-Pasqualli, J., Franquesa-Soler, M., Munoz-Jimenez, O., Rodriguez-Aguilar, G., Villegas-Patraca, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Wind energy development and wildlife conservation in Lithuania: A mapping tool for conflict assessment Morkune, R., Marčiukaitis, M., Jurkin, V., Gecevicius, G., Morkunas, J., Raudonikis, L., Markevicius, A., Narscius, A., Gasiunaite, Z. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement Bats, Birds
    Bat Impact Minimization Technology: An Improved Bat Deterrent for the Full Swept Rotor Area of Any Wind Turbine Cooper, D., Green, T., Miller, M., Rickards, E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Noise Bats
    Indiana Bat and Northern Long-Eared Bat Habitat Conservation Plan Timber Road II, III, and IV Wind Farms, Paulding County, Ohio Paulding Wind Farm, Western Ecosystems Technology Inc (WEST) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    European free–tailed bat fatalities at wind farms in southern Spain Muñoz, A., Farfan, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Impactos ambientales de los parques eólicos y líneas de transmisión de energía sobre la biodiversidad de áreas protegidas del departamento de la Guajira-Colombia Garavito-Terrez, L Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
    Long-term Acoustic Assessment of Bats at Spion Kop Reservoir, Montana for 2015-2017 Bachen, D., Burkholder, B., Maxell, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Displacement Bats
    Evaluation of an Acoustic Deterrent to Reduce Bat Mortalities at an Illinois Wind Farm Romano, W., Skalski, J., Townsend, R., Kinzie, K., Coppinger, K., Miller, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
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