Benefits of Bats on Farmland

Bats on the Farm 

Farmland in Alberta is uniquely important for bat conservation. Many of our bats feed over crops and pastures and may target insects that harass livestock. Old farmyard buildings are often used as roosts and can be critical for supporting local bat populations. Ensuring bat-friendly practices on farms and creating conditions where bats can thrive are important for healthy ecosystems across Alberta. 

The two most common bats to see on farmland are the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). 

Pest Control 

Alberta's bats feed primarily on moths, mosquitos, beetles, and biting flies, providing pest control through: 

• Controlling populations of insect agricultural pests, including cucumber beetles, June bugs, stinkbugs, and leafhoppers. A colony of 150 big brown bats can consume enough cucumber beetles in one summer to prevent the production of 33 million root-damaging larvae. 

• Consuming biting insects - including mosquitoes and flies, - reducing stress on livestock and improving yield. Small bats can eat 5,000 mosquito-sized insects per night. 

• Disrupting moth egg-laying behaviors through emitting hunting calls. Moths detect these calls and leave the area, disrupting their egg-laying patterns.  

Healthy bat populations provide billions of dollars worth of pest control services and can significantly reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Bats also contribute to biodiversity, especially in wetland and forest ecosystems. 

Bat-Friendly Farming 

Bat-friendly farming involves using techniques that protect and enhance bat habitat. Bats require: 

• Open water for drinking (i.e. lakes, ponds, rivers, troughs) 

• Daytime and maternity roosts (i.e. trees, crevices, buildings) 

• Foraging areas with many flying insects (i.e. areas with trees, wetlands, and/or wind protection) 

• Hibernation sites (i.e. caves, buildings, and deep rock crevices) 

In the ideal bat habitat, these requirements are met in close proximity. Because of this, riparian forests and wetlands are especially important for bats. However, any step to conserve or improve bat habitat can have a positive impact on local bat populations.  

Best practices include: 

• Conserve or restore natural areas, such as wetlands, riparian vegetation, and forests.  

• Use fencing and off-site watering systems to prevent livestock from damaging wetlands and streambanks. 

• Retain large trees with peeling bark, cracks and cavities; bats use these as roosting sites. Plant young trees to provide future bat habitat.  

• Leave dead trees in place. If trees pose a safety risk, cut to a lower height. If removal is necessary, do so between November and February.  

• Promote habitat connectivity with shelterbelts. 

• Retain old buildings that may have bat colonies. Avoid removing bats from buildings, especially while they are caring for young (April - October).  

• Minimize pesticide use. If possible, keep pesticide-free areas within your farm. 

• Increase insect biodiversity through intercropping, crop rotation, or interspersing crops with natural vegetation. Incorporate native plant, shrub, and tree species where possible. 

• Use sustainable agricultural practices, including rotational grazing, to improve ecosystem health. 

• Provide escape structures to prevent bats from getting trapped in water troughs, rain barrels, or other smooth-sided features. Avoid using barbed wire near aquatic habitat, especially on the top strand. Keep fences at least 10m from any open water. 

• Avoid disturbing roost or hibernation sites. 

• Keep pets away from bats and roosts. 

Agricultural producers interested in establishing beneficial management practices within their farming operation should contact ALUS. To learn more about the ALUS program, visit www.parklandcounty.com/ALUS. 

For more information on bat-friendly farming, visit Bat-Friendly Farming. You can also contribute to research by reporting observations of bats, roosts, hibernation sites, and mortality to the Alberta Community Bat Program. 

Sources: 

• Farms - Alberta Community Bat Program 
• Bat management | Alberta.ca 
• The benefit of bats on Alberta farms and ranches - 
• Bat-Fact-Sheet-FINAL-for-WEB.pdf 
• Eptesicus fuscus - Bat Conservation International 
• The benefits of bats — Ducks Unlimited Canada