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
    Influence of landscape and time of year on bat-wind turbines collision risks Roemer, C., Bas, Y., Disca, T., Coulon, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
    U.S. Geological Survey energy and wildlife research annual report for 2019 Khalil, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Fish, Terrestrial Mammals
    Impactos Ambientales de la Energía Eólica (Environmental Impacts of the Wind Energy) Hernández-Galvez, G., Pampillón-González, L., Hernández-Almenares, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Physical Environment, Visual Impacts
    First three‐dimensional tracks of bat migration reveal large amounts of individual behavioral flexibility O'Mara, M., Wikelski, M., Kranstauber, B., Dechmann, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Impacts to Wildlife of Wind Energy Siting and Operation in the United States Allison, T., Diffendorfer, J., Baerwald, E., Beston, J., Drake, D., Hale, A., Hein, C., Huso, M., Loss, S., Lovich, J., Strickland, M., Williams, K., Winder, V. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Understanding Wind Energy Impacts to Bats and Testing Reduction Strategies in South Texas Weaver, S. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Red bat fatality: Geographic extents through deuterium and niche models Murtaugh, R., Capparella, A., Kostelnick, J., Johnson, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    A Methodology to Assess the National and Regional Impacts of U.S. Wind Energy Development on Birds and Bats Diffendorfer, J., Beston, J., Merrill, M., Stanton, J., Corum, M., Loss, S., Thogmartin, W., Johnson, D., Erickson, R., Heist, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    A smart curtailment approach for reducing bat fatalities and curtailment time at wind energy facilities Hayes, M., Hooton, L., Gilland, K., Grandgent, C., Smith, T., Lindsay, S., Collins, J., Schumacher, S., Rabie, P., Gruver, J., Goodrich-Mahoney, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Bird and Bat Conservation Strategy Deuel Harvest North Wind Farm Deuel County, South Dakota Simon, S., Welch-Acosta, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance Birds, Bats
    2018 Post - Construction Monitoring Study Black Oak Getty Wind Project Stearns County, Minnesota Pickle, J., Lombardi, J., Stucker, J., DiDonato, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    2018 Post-Construction Monitoring Study Red Pine Wind Energy Facility Lincoln County, Minnesota Trana, M., Hyzy, B., Pickle, J., Gustafson, Z. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    An evidence-based approach to specifying survey effort in ecological assessments of bat activity Richardson, S., Lintott, P., Hosken, D., Mathews, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    New Creek Wind Project 2018 Post-construction Monitoring Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Utility-scale wind energy development challenges in Pennsylvania, 2018 Rohrs, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Echolocation activity of migratory bats at a wind energy facility: testing the feeding-attraction hypothesis to explain fatalities Reimer, J., Baerwald, E., Barlay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction Bats
    Bats and Wind Energy: Impacts, Mitigation, and Tradeoffs Allison, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    GenEst Statistical Models — A Generalized Estimator of Mortality Dalthorp, D., Madsen, L., Huso, M., Rabie, P., Wolpert, R., Studyvin, J., Simonis, J., Mintz, J. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Carcass Age and Searcher Identity Affect Morphological Assessment of Sex of Bats Nelson, D., Nagel, J., Trott, R., Campbell, C., Pruitt, L., Good, R., Iskali, G., Gugger, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Multi-state occupancy models of foraging habitat use by the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) Gorresen, P., Brinck, K., DeLisle, M., Montoya-Aiona, K., Pinzari, C., Bonaccorso, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Wind Energy and Bat Conservation - A Review by the Canadian Wind Energy Association Barnes, R., Hill, M., Peters, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
    Estimating habitat loss due to wind turbine avoidance by bats: Implications for European siting guidance Barre, K., Le Viol, I., Bas, Y., Julliard, R., Kerbiriou, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
    Using network analysis to identify indicator species and reduce collision fatalities at wind farms Sebastian-Gonzalez, E., Perez-Garcia, J., Carrete, M., Donazar, J., Sanchez-Zapata, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
    Barbastelle bats in a wind farm: are they at risk? Apoznanski, G., Sanchez-Navarro, S., Kokurewicz, T., Pettersson, S., Rydell, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Texturizing Wind Turbine Towers to Reduce Bat Mortality Bennett, V., Hendrix, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
    Estimating the Likelihood of Bat Barotrauma using Computational Simulations and Analytical Calculations Lawson, M., Jenne, D., Thresher, R. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Resolving environmental effects of wind energy Sinclair, K., Copping, A., May, R., Bennet, F., Warnas, M., Perron, M., Elmqvist, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
    Ultrasonic Bat Deterrent Technology Kinzie, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    A review of searcher efficiency and carcass persistence in infrastructure-driven mortality assessment studies Barrientos, R., Martins, R., Ascensão, F., D'Amico, M., Moreira, F., Borda-de-Água, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions
    Resource Availability May Not Be a Useful Predictor of Migratory Bat Fatalities or Activity at Wind Turbines Bennett, V., Hale, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction Bats
    Field validation of radar systems for monitoring bird migration Nilsson, C., Dokter, A., Schmid, B., Scacco, M., Verlinden, L., Backman, J., Haase, G., Dell'Omo, G., Chapman, J., Leijnse, H., Liechti, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
    Inconspicuous echolocation in hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) Corcoran, A., Weller, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Mitigating the negative impacts of tall wind turbines on bats: Vertical activity profiles and relationships to wind speed Wellig, S., Nussle, S., Miltner, D., Kohle, O., Glaizot, O., Braunisch, V., Obrist, M., Arlettaz, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Tier 4 Post-Construction Mortality Monitoring Study for the Odell Wind Energy Project Cottonwood and Jackson Counties, Minnesota: Final Fatality Report December 2016 – December 2017 Chodachek, K., Gustafson, Z. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Wind turbines impact bat activity, leading to high losses of habitat use in a biodiversity hotspot Millon, L., Colin, C., Brescia, F., Kerbiriou, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Habitat Change Bats
    Impacts of onshore wind energy production on birds and bats: recommendations for future life cycle impact assessment developments Laranjeiro, T., May, R., Verones, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    New Creek Wind Project 2017 Post-construction Monitoring Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Bat Evaluation Monitoring Studies at the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm Benton County, Indiana: August 1 - October 15, 2017 Good, R., Iskali, G., Nasman, K., Ciecka, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Comparing Field Methods Used to Determine Bird and Bat Fatalities Paula, J., Augusto, M., Neves, T., Bispo, R., Cardoso, P., Mascarenhas, M. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Composition and activity of arthropodivorous bat community in wind farms in the Mexican Tropics Garcia-Luis, M., Briones-Salas, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
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