Using Ultraviolet Light To Deter Bats From Wind Turbines—Short Science Summary

Bat

One hypothesis seeking to explain why bats collide with wind turbines is that bats, while relying on visual cues during open-air flight, mistake turbine silhouettes as trees. As a result, bats become attracted to the wind turbine in anticipation of foraging, roosting, and/or mating opportunities. As a technique to disrupt this attraction, a series of studies (including ongoing research) have investigated whether illuminating wind turbines with ultraviolet (UV) light (visible to bats but not humans) would make them visually distinct from trees to the point that bats would no longer confuse the two. During tests in a natural setting, bats appeared to exhibit a slightly negative response to UV-lit trees; however, during testing at wind turbines, there was no significant difference in bat activity between UV-lit and non-UV-lit turbines. At present, there is no strong evidence that UV illumination either deters (or attracts) bats, and existing evidence remains inconclusive. Current and future research should investigate the efficacy of UV illuminance with study designs that focus on increased sample sizes while monitoring for any potentially unanticipated negative effects to the environment when adding stimuli such as UV lights, which may, for example, attract insects.

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
Bird and Bat Collision Risks & Wind Energy Facilities Willmott, J., Allison Costello, E., Gordon, C., Forcey, G., Casto, S., Beaulac, G., Pilla, E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
Bat Mortalities at a Wind Energy Facility in North Dakota Bicknell, L., Gilliam, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
Wind development and wildlife mitigation in Wyoming: a primer Jakle, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Guidelines for Reducing Impacts to Wildlife from Wind Energy Development in Arizona Arizona Game and Fish Department Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Baseline investigations of bats and birds at wind turbine test Centre Asterild Therkildsen, O., Elmeros, M., Kahlert, J., Desholm, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Birds, Bats
A Habitat-Based Wind-Wildlife Collision Model with Application to the Upper Great Plains Region Forcey, G. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Birds, Bats
Criterion Wind Project Avian Protection Plan Young, D., Tidhar, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Birds, Bats
Best Management Practices for siting, developing, operating, and monitoring renewable energy in the Intermountain West: A Conservationist's Guide Jones, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Terrestrial Mammals, Raptors, Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Ground-Nesting Birds, Birds, Bats
Avian and Bat Protection Plan for the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility Ocotillo Express Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Big Blue Wind Energy Project Avian and Bat Protection Plan Western Ecosystems Technology Inc (WEST) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: AWA Goodhue Wind Project Westwood Professional Services Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Ultrasonic Acoustic Deterrent in Reducing Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities - Final Report Arnett, E., Hein, C., Schirmacher, M., Baker, M., Huso, M., Szewczak, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
Avian, Bat and Habitat Cumulative Impacts Associated with Wind Energy Development in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Of Eastern Washington and Oregon 2011 Johnson, G., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
Bat Mortality and Activity at a Northern Iowa Wind Resource Area Jain, A., Koford, R., Hancock, A., Zenner, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Bats
Best Management Practices for Bats in New Mexico Balistreri, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats
Avian and Bat Protection Plan: Iberdrola Renewables Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
How Ecofriendly are Wind Farms? Cohn, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Raptors, Birds, Bats
Testing the Effectiveness of an Experimental Acoustic Bat Deterrent at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm Horn, J., Arnett, E., Jensen, M., Kunz, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
Behavioral Responses of Bats to Operating Wind Turbines Horn, J., Arnett, E., Kunz, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
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
Impacts on Wildlife and Government Responsibilities for Regulating Development and Protecting Wildlife Office, United States Government Accountability Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Displacement, Collision, Avoidance Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions, Birds, Bats
Bat Activity, Composition, and Collision Mortality At a Large Wind Plant in Minnesota Johnson, G., Perlik, M., Erickson, W., Strickland, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
Bat Interactions With Wind Turbines at the Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota Wind Resource Area: An Assessment of Bat Activity, Species Composition, and Collision Mortality Johnson, G., Perlik, M., Erickson, W., Strickland, M., Shepherd, D., Sutherland, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Bats
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