Biologists monitor Kentucky’s hibernating bat population

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — State wildlife officials are turning their attention underground this month as they work to monitor Kentucky’s bat populations.

According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, biologists are surveying hibernating bat colonies inside caves across the state. The winter surveys involve counting different bat species, checking cave conditions and watching closely for signs of disease — including white-nose syndrome, a fungal illness that has devastated bat populations across North America.

Wildlife officials say Kentucky’s native bats remain a high conservation priority. Four species found in the state are federally endangered, while several others are considered vulnerable or in decline.

The information gathered during these surveys helps biologists track population trends and guide long-term conservation efforts aimed at protecting bats and the ecosystems they support.