Wind turbines estimated to have killed 18.7 million bats in US

A comprehensive analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimates that wind turbines have caused approximately 18.7 million bat fatalities across the conterminous United States between 1981 and 2024.

Researchers utilized a multispecies Bayesian hierarchical framework to synthesize 499 postconstruction monitoring reports. The study indicates that since 2021, annual fatalities may have risen to approximately 1.5 million. The magnitude of these losses is noted to be comparable to the total losses caused by white-nose syndrome, though the two threats impact different species: turbines primarily affect migratory species, while white-nose syndrome is more lethal to cave-roosting species.

Findings suggest that wind energy developments are particularly hazardous when located near rivers, mineshafts, karst formations, or within the Appalachian Mountains. Hoary bats were identified as one of the species most affected. The researchers suggest that the data can inform turbine design, siting, and policymaking to mitigate wildlife impacts.