CHAMPAIGN , Illinois — For many, bats evoke images of Halloween and spooky stories. However, for a dedicated team at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) these flying mammals represent a critical battle of environmental stewardship and conservation within military landscapes. This year, the week of October 24-31 represents the annual Bat Week– a global celebration aimed at highlighting the importance of bat conservation.
"Bat conservation efforts are a top priority and installations across the country spend considerable resources monitoring for bats," said Pat Wolff, a Research Wildlife Biologist at ERDC’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL).
According to the Department of Defense (DOD) Natural Resources Program, more than 300 military installations will be potentially affected by at least one bat species listing under the Endangered Species Act in the next five years. Researchers from ERDC-CERL and ERDC’s Environmental Laboratory (EL) are at the forefront of innovative projects aimed at understanding and preserving bat populations on DoD installations.
"Our work is important because it directly impacts on-the-ground land and natural resource management on DoD installations," Wolff explained. "Our goal is to minimize conflict between threatened and endangered species (TES) and military operations while promoting environmental stewardship and conservation of at-risk species."
For decades, ERDC has conducted bat research in support of military missions. Historically, the focus has been on assessing the potential impacts of military training on listed species. However, in recent years, bat populations nationwide have faced significant declines, largely due to the spread of the fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome. Because of this, ERDC’s bat research has broadened to address the urgent need for installations to evaluate the statuses of their bat populations.
Earlier this month, ERDC-CERL researchers attended the Central Illinois Bat Festival to share more of their lab’s bat research. Researchers Pat Wolff, Lauren Urie and Halle Santiago connected with community members to share more about CERL’s work in addressing bat populations at military installations.
“Participating in outreach events like this is incredibly rewarding,” said Urie. “In addition to igniting excitement in our community about the importance of the work we do at CERL, with potential to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, outreach also provides us with the opportunity to strengthen our science communication skills.”
ERDC-CERL's focus on bat populations spans both research and compliance support, focusing on improving species management and conservation strategies. One project involves developing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software that enhances bat species identification from acoustic data. Military land managers often use automated passive acoustic monitoring to survey for bats, generating extensive data that can be hard to manage. Now, they rely on special software to identify bat species by their echolocation calls. Recent improvements in artificial intelligence, especially deep learning, have developed better models for classifying these calls.
"The objective of this project is to demonstrate deep learning models for bat echolocation call detection and classification to improve the accuracy and efficiency of automated acoustic analyses and transition this technology for use by DoD natural resource managers," Wolff explained.
Another ERDC-CERL project involves improving the efficiency and safety of artificial roosts, also known as bat boxes, for housing bats. The roosts are used to monitor and manage bat populations and can aid in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Many military installations have installed these boxes to move bats away from conflict areas and enhance or create habitats. However, poorly designed or improperly placed bat boxes can be ineffective or even harmful. That's where ERDC comes in.
“We looked at how well different bat box designs work for housing bats and tested acoustic lures to attract bats faster,” said Wolff. “We also offered guidance to help military managers use bat box technology effectively.”
ERDC-CERL helps DoD land managers assess the presence and activity of at-risk species on military lands to prevent conflicts between conservation and military training. The team conducts surveys for federally protected bat species using both noninvasive methods, like passive acoustic monitoring and environmental DNA (eDNA), and more invasive techniques such as live-capture and radio telemetry. The data collected helps track species occupancy and distribution over time, informing land management decisions. Additionally, ERDC-CERL contributes findings to broader conservation initiatives, such as the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat).
Currently, ERDC-CERL is helping U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA) develop an Endangered Species Management Plan (ESMP) for federally listed bat species on their property. This plan will be integrated into the installation’s Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan, which outlines long-term strategies for managing natural resources.
Research sites include a range of locations, such as the historic USMA West Point, New York; Camp Grayling, Michigan; Fort Cavazos, Texas; Adelphi Laboratory Center, Maryland; and Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, reflecting the diverse ecosystems and unique challenges faced by each installation.
"While the broad goal for every installation is to minimize conflict between TES and military operations, each installation is unique," Wolff shared. "The challenges in Texas are different than in Maryland, which are different than in Puerto Rico. I’m very lucky that my job lets me travel to these diverse places to help installations achieve their goals.
As the ERDC-CERL team continues to innovate and adapt, their work not only safeguards bat populations but also reinforces the military’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The future of these batty creatures depends on collaborative efforts and ongoing research, ensuring that bats continue to thrive alongside our nation’s defense operations.