Buffalo Bat Habitat

08/30/2026

As another summer season begins to wind down at the Ripley Bat Farm, we recently completed our final emergence counts for 2026. With the help of our awesome volunteers, the owners of the bat farm, and our BBH crew, we counted 353 bats at our mid-August count!

Between our pre-emergence visual inspections, dedicated counters, new imagery equipment, and some resilient bats - an estimated 2/3rds of the population comprises the critically imperiled little brown bat - Myotis lucifugus! With the remaining 1/3rd of the population being the big brown bat- Eptesicus fuscus.
Why is this number so important? Compared to our July counts of 575, our recent August emergence count gives us a good picture of how many remaining females are in this maternity colony, as well as the growth potential for the future. By the time we conducted our August count, most of the males had moved from the maternity roost and had begun settling into their “bachelor pads” before the fall swarm.

What makes 353 bats so meaningful is the history behind this colony. At one time, the Ripley Bat Farm was home to more than 1,700 bats! Sadly, when white-nose syndrome swept through our region, it decimated our bat populations throughout the Northeast by 90-99%, bringing this irreplaceable colony down to under 40 bats.

There are still so many questions about what is driving this unique colony’s survival, persistence, and recovery. Are we beginning to see a degree of tolerance to white-nose syndrome within this colony? Is there something unique about where this colony hibernates? Could they be using a hibernaculum associated with potential cave systems along Lake Erie? - We don’t know yet. But through our continued commitment to conservation of this rare colony, we aim to answer those questions through the scientific collection of long-term data, habitat protection and restoration, radio-tracking, and genetic analysis. It is our hope that we can learn from a colony that has survived one of the most devastating wildlife disease events in North American history, in hopes of sharing our research to help bat populations across the nation.

Sadly, the little brown bat remains critically imperiled in the United States and listed as federally endangered in Canada. Yet here at Ripley, we have the privilege of witnessing something hopeful. Conservation in real-time.

Every bat emerging from this roost is part of the story of this colony’s survival. Every pup born here signifies resilience and the opportunity for the survival of the little brown bat. From more than 1,700 to under 40, and now 353 bats - this story of survival and hope for the future at the Ripley Bat Farm is far from over.

08/17/2026

Good morning and happy ! This week we are pleased to introduce our Secretary of the Board, Noel Lampazzi. Noel is our newest member of the board and we are incredibly fortunate for the wealth of experience in wildlife preservation and environmental science she brings to our organization.

Noel has dedicated herself to furthering the science and practice of wildlife rehabilitation and rescue across the United States, and BBH is deeply grateful for her time, energy and enthusiasm. She brings a scientific and practical, yet cheerful approach to our work as a team. Brainstorming with Noel produces exciting and feasible ideas that keep driving us forward.

It is also worth mentioning (in this volunteer's opinion) that aside from her scrolling list of qualifications, Noel's bat wardrobe and accessories are worthy of their own post series. Thank you, Noel! We are so lucky to work with you, ma'am!

Noel's bat bio reads:

Noel’s “Bat Habit” started as a general “Wildlife Habit.” Growing up in Houston, TX, Noel’s mother , Amy, taught her to appreciate the less-loved critters in her backyard, from snakes and turtles to opossums, beetles, and turkey vultures. It wasn’t until college that Noel’s appreciation for undervalued animals like salamanders and bats became a true love.

While studying for an environmental science degree at Bucknell University, Noel learned about a fungal pathogen devastating amphibian populations. It was called “BD” (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), and she felt a calling to conservation of amphibians around the world. Noel spent the second half of her time at Bucknell working with a lab and studying how successful different sampling methods were at detecting the fungus in central Pennsylvanian ecosystems.

Finally, during her final semester at BU, Noel took Mammalogy with Dr. DeeAnn Reeder, a mammalogist researching White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). This, too, was a fungal pathogen, but it was devastating bat populations across North America. During this semester with Dr. Reeder, Noel’s appreciation for bats grew into a passion for their conservation. This is where her “Bat Habit” truly started.

After graduation Noel volunteered with conservation organizations in her hometown including the Houston Zoo and a nearby nature center. She moved to Northern Virginia and began an internship with The Save Lucy Campaign (now the Bat Conservation & Rescue of Virginia), an organization devoted to rehabilitating injured and orphaned bats and educating the public. Noel spent a year rehabilitating bats, assisting with public outreach, and fundraising with Save Lucy. She determined during this time that bats were not only noteworthy for the ecological and economic benefits they provided, or even their fascinating adaptations: they were also adorable.

From there, Noel worked with Bat Conservation International on a wind turbine mortality study in Western OH; spent a year with the Texas Conservation Corps (an AmeriCorps project); volunteered with All Hands & Hearts, a disaster relief non-profit; taught summer camp at a nature center; returned to OH for another AmeriCorps project; and finally landed in Western NY just before the pandemic hit.

Noel no longer does field work or lab research, but her passion for wildlife remains strong and she is thrilled to be a part of the Buffalo Bat Habitat crew. If you see her, ask her about her favorite bat!

08/09/2026

It’s That Time of Year…

Young, curious bats, often boys, will find themselves in the most precarious and peculiar of situations. Perhaps you or a neighbor have had a temporary visitor, or noticed them hanging on a window screen, in a garage, or even accidentally finding their way into your home, don’t panic! This is one of the most common times of year for it to happen.

In late summer, after young male bats have passed flight school, they leave their maternity colony to find new places to roost. Think of them as teenagers moving out of the home, unsure of the world, sometimes a little too fearless, and looking for a bachelor pad. They’re exploring their new world and occasionally making a few wrong turns along the way.

It’s important to remember that if a bat ends up inside your home, it isn’t trying to attack you, bite you, or get stuck in your hair. That’s the last thing they’d want to do. In almost every case, they’re just a little lost, and trying to find their new home.
How can you help? If you find a bat indoors:
- Stay calm.
- If possible, close interior doors to confine the bat to one room.
- Just before dusk, open an exterior door or window, turn off your indoor lights, view from a safe distance, and allow the bat to leave on its own. Many will quickly find their way out, and thank you for being so kind.
- Keep pets and children away from the room until the bat has safely flown away.

Remember, despite the recent highlights in the media, rabies in bats is very rare. Only a very small percentage of bats test positive, and the overwhelming majority are healthy, magnificent creatures that spend their nights eating mosquitoes, moths, and protecting the night sky.

Most of these wayward bats are simply trying to navigate a big new world. One that we are a part of and share. A little patience and understanding can help keep you and our bats safe.

08/04/2026

If you are considering putting up a bat house, you can't go wrong with any of the models from Bat Conservation and Management. Like the Super Rocket Roost featured in this video, they are all "Bat Approved." Use the coupon code "BUFFBAT" for 5% off your purchase and help support Buffalo Bat Habitat!

07/28/2026

Every year around this time, stories arise about rabid bats in our area. This year is no exception, as two bats in Niagara County recently tested positive for the virus. Predictably, local news outlets were quick to report the story, with the obligatory stock photos of a bat menacing the camera with bared teeth.

Rabies can occur in virtually all mammal species, with varying degrees of frequency. In the case of bats, less than 1% of bats globally carry rabies, while 96% of those captured and tested for the virus locally in Erie County were found not to have it.

On average, only one person per year dies from rabies in the United States and Canada; however, fears of the disease and its potential vectors run disproportionately high. We are advised by our health officials to presume that ALL bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes have rabies. Such simplistic messaging may be effective in raising awareness and shaping behavior, but what are the ramifications?

Bats are innately docile animals and can be found roosting or hibernating in structures or natural habitats close to us. That makes them exceedingly vulnerable to harmful acts brought on by fear-based messaging. An entire colony, built over decades, can be easily destroyed by one person who presumes that all bats have rabies.

Without question, rabies is a deadly virus that must be regarded seriously. Luckily, both pre- and post-exposure vaccinations minimize the risk of contracting the disease. As we must live in a natural world shared with wild creatures large and small, some perspective is warranted. Merlin Tuttle wrote an excellent article, providing a more nuanced perspective as well as very practical advice for responding to bat encounters. Please, please give it a read.

If public health warnings were based on actual risk, rabies from bats would be near the bottom of the list. On a global scale 99 percent of human rabies comes from dogs, killing more than 60,000 humans annually.1, A In contrast, transmission from bats is exceedingly rare. Colonial species, the ones....

07/24/2026

Are you interested in putting up a bat house? Thank you! But please exercise care when selecting a bat house to buy. There are many choices available, both on-line and in brick-and-mortar stores, but many may not be suitably designed for the bats in our area, or they may be constructed using materials and methods that won’t hold up to our challenging weather conditions.

Before you make a purchase, check out the bat house selection criteria provided by Merlin Tuttle (https://www.merlintuttle.org/selecting-a-quality-bat-house/) and apply them against the model you might be considering. You could also choose to purchase from one of the many “MTBC-Approved Bat House Vendors” listed on the same page, as their models already meet the criteria.

Buffalo Bat Habitat is partnered with Bat Conservation and Management (BCM) as our bat house provider. BCM is a MTBC-Approved vendor and their bat houses are among the very best available on the market.

Check them out:
https://batmanagement.com/collections/buffalo-bat-habitat-bat-houses

Use coupon code BUFFBAT for 5% off your purchase. When you do, you’ll also be supporting Buffalo Bat Habitat, as a portion of the sale will be directed to us!

Since Merlin first introduced bat houses to North America in 1982, one of the most frequently asked questions has been, “Where can I purchase a good bat house?” The next question that always follows is, “How do I know bats will come?” Over the decades, we’ve learned much about bat preferen...

07/20/2026

continues this week! We are pleased to introduce Sophie Kephart, our Treasurer and social media girl (who is alarmingly adept at third person narration). Sophie has volunteered internationally with various nonprofit organizations over the last 15 years and has a natural curiosity and determination that have led to wearing many different hats.

In August Sophie will be gathering echolocation recordings in a remote part of Ghana, West Africa to contribute to Dr. Townsend's bat research. Sophie is currently enrolled at Johns Hopkins University and will begin a Systems Engineering Master's program in the fall. Her experience with Buffalo Bat Habitat has been nothing short of lifechanging, and she cannot express the depth of her gratitude for the people she gets to work with and learn from every day. 🥰🦇🌍

Sophie's bat bio reads:

My bat habit began in Ghana, West Africa 15 years ago with a profound encounter with thousands of bats deep in the rural bush of the Brong-Ahafo region. I did not know at first if what I was hearing was weather related, or something else. I asked another volunteer if it was thunder, half-knowing it couldn’t be, and he simply replied “bats!”. It was unlike anything I had ever heard. The best way I can describe it was like an ocean wave in the night sky. I was volunteering for a humanitarian project focused on primary school education, and yet, we were being completely enveloped, surrounded, and held by the natural world. Thousands of bats moved overhead in a powerful wave, and suddenly an overnight in the rural bush felt much less isolated.

As a child, I was read the book Stellaluna, a beautiful narrative about the goodness and life bats provide to our ecosystems – and the idea that despite our differences, we all need each other to survive. I never could have imagined how my variety of interests and volunteer efforts would come full-circle. But today, I spend my time amplifying voices in underserved communities, and building systems that support people making a difference in their community. I’m also passionate about helping empower young women to break cycles of poverty and pursue their education, and developing sustainable supply chains for superfood crops pollinated by (go figure) bats!

Most of my work for Buffalo Bat Habitat happens quietly, and behind the scenes. I like to think that’s what I love most about bats, too. They don’t ask for the spotlight, in fact, they work while most of us are sleeping. We need them for our survival, even if they aren’t as famously loved as butterflies or birds. An unlikely partner, an unsung hero, a perfect fit for the city of Batfalo, and a girl who’s always been guilty of dreaming a little too big.

07/16/2026

Another July emergence count in the books at the Ripley Bat Farm. We had a bast! In almost 10 years of surveying this colony, we've never seen so many bats! 🥹

In July 2025, we estimated the colony size at about 350. Last night, we counted 500 bats emerging, as well as at least 75 that remained in the bat boxes (likely pups, nursing mothers, and perhaps some influenced by the wildfire smog).

575 bats. There were under 40 in 2016. This colony continues to recover from White Nose Syndrome, demonstrating just how unique and important these specific bats are for our future.

We must protect the Ripley Bat Farm! Please donate if you can, or share to help spread the word so Buffalo Bat Habitat can conserve this incredible property and steward the bat colony for a stronger, more resilient ecosystem for future generations. ✊🦇🏡

https://giving.gofundme.com/campaign/815452/donate

07/13/2026

resumes as we introduce Terry Lobdell, our Technical Advisor! If there was a degree program in Citizen Science, Terry would hold a doctorate and be a Distinguished Professor! On his property in northwest Pennsylvania, Terry has installed over 100 bat houses, many of his own design. He systematically observes which bat houses and locations are effective and how his colony of around 150 big brown bats uses them. In reporting his observations, he is contributing to our understanding of bat behavior and changing common misperceptions about them. We are grateful for his contributions to bat conservation and very privileged to have him on our team!

Terry’s Bat Habit bio reads:

My bat habit began in 1999 when I built my first successful bat house using plans from Merlin Tuttle’s “Bat House Builder’s Handbook.” That summer I saw a small amount of guano underneath so I knew it was being used. The next summer in 2000, I mounted a 4-crevice box on a pole in my back yard. In August I used a spotlight to look up inside. There must have been 20 or 30 faces looking down at me. From that moment I was hooked!

A big part of what initially led me down this path was accumulating vast piles of scrap lumber from my previous occupation as a carpenter. I was always very OCD about not throwing useful materials away. I decided I could use up some of those piles of lumber by building bat houses. I also had a longstanding interest in experimenting with many different materials in the past and building bat houses became the perfect hobby to try unlimited kinds of unusual projects.

It wasn’t long before I was mounting bat houses for anyone who was interested.

Each year I learn to improve and simplify ways bat houses can be constructed, often using scrap or recyclable materials. I’ve also designed and experimented with various portable bases, which allow a bat house to be moved to different locations by a single person. I have step by step photos showing how different designs go together. I also published a bat house plan book that is available online and, in a full circle trip, contributed to Merlin Tuttle’s recent book “The Bat House Guide.”

One of my most memorable early projects started in 2005: I installed a large 4-crevice box on a cottage in NWPA as part of an exclusion. That bat house saw no usage that first year or in 2006. However, when checking in early summer 2007, I walked up to a sight that set my heart to pounding. The pile of guano underneath the bat house immediately told me there could be as many as 100 little brown bats roosting there! I came back a few nights later and counted 92 emerge at dusk. That colony quickly grew to about 275 in 2009. But then, in 2010, the numbers plunged and I knew that White-nose Syndrome had reached NWPA. That colony has never rebounded and averages only about ten little brown bats each year. I’m aware of only four remnant colonies of little brown bats in NWPA and haven’t seen a new colony of little browns since 2011. This experience and perspective gives me a profound appreciation for the little brown bat colony at the Ripley Bat Farm and Buffalo Bat Habitat’s efforts to protect it.

Throughout these 27 years I have had some incredible experiences, made so many great friends and have gained much hope for the future in bat conservation. I am really excited to be a part of Buffalo Bat Habitat and am looking forward to helping out however I can!