About

Established in July 2016, the Illinois Bat Conservation Program is a statewide research, monitoring and outreach program focused on conservation and management of Illinois’ thirteen bat species.  Using yearly surveys across the state, we will establish which species of bats are present, where they are found, and where they reproduce.   Our data will become part of a larger dataset for the North American Bat Monitoring Program, contributing to the conservation of bats nationwide.

Core collaborators include the University of Illinois‘ Prairie Research Institute, Eastern Illinois University, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Bat populations in the United States are rapidly declining due to human development and a fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome.

Among the many websites where you can learn more about bats are: Bat Conservation International, North American Society for Bat Research and the Midwest Bat Working Group.

Contact us at:  thohoff2@illinois.edu