Assessing changes in bat activity in response to an acoustic deterrent: implications for decreasing bat fatalities at wind facilities

Abstract

Wind energy is a renewable resource with many environmental benefits. However, one environmental impact from wind energy is on bats, because bats are killed when they fly into the path of spinning turbine blades. Estimates of bat fatalities at wind facilities across the U.S. exceed 500,000 per year. One potential way to reduce bat fatalities at wind facilities is with acoustic deterrents. These devices, including the newly designed acoustic deterrent tested during this study, produce sound to deter bats. At a wind farm in north-central Texas, we assessed changes in bat activity at wind turbines and closely associated cattle ponds in response to the acoustic deterrent. The acoustic deterrent reduced the level of bat activity by up to 90%, indicating it has the potential to reduce bat fatalities when installed on wind turbines.