Bats affected by windfarms – up to 80,000 killed per year

Using sniffer dogs to locate the remains of bats near turbines, the University of Exeter have found many bodies in their research. A survey revealed out of 29 wind farms it showed 194 bats were killed per month, though that may be a conservative estimate.

Scientists think the sonar ability in bats is not operative when they are high up which leads to them being affected by the blades of the turbines, as well as affecting insects also.

Bats have been around for at least 30 million years and this is really the first time they have been affected by spinning objects. The soprano pipistrelle and the common pipistrelle – tiny bats with reddish brown coats and blackish brown ears are mostly affected, also the noctule. Dr Paul Lintott says that it is vital to remember the “wider benefits of renewable energy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the positive future impacts on global biodiversity”.

The research was funded by “Current Biology” journal, and funded by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.