Little Brown Bats Recovering in Wisconsin

Thursday, August 21st, 2025 -- 8:00 AM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) Little brown bats are recovering in Wisconsin.

According to the Wisconsin Radio Network, a social media post from the Department of Natural Resources reports that the species, once decimated by white-nose syndrome, has growing numbers for the third consecutive year at summer roost sites.

Last month, volunteers across Wisconsin participated in the annual Great Wisconsin Bat Count and observed nearly 25,000 bats as they emerged from their daytime roosts, up from 22,600 counted in July 2024.

These efforts help DNR biologists better understand the status of Wisconsin’s bat populations. The species still has a long way to go, but multiple years of increasing numbers give hope for recovery.

Bats are important for agriculture and forestry. It is estimated that bats in Wisconsin save farmers up to $658 million every year in the form of pest control.

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