Protecting bats (Order Chiroptera) has become a priority in the Michigan, where abandoned mine shafts are being adapted to provide bats with much needed habitat.

For safety and liability reasons, owners of abandonned mines often close mine shafts. Although the shafts provide good habitat for bats, they also present many perils to people who attempt to explore them. By closing the abandonned shafts, owners prevent people from illegal access to the shafts, thus avoiding uncessary injuries and legal battles. Now conservationists are installing safety bars at the entrances of the unused mine shafts, to prevent people from getting in, while bats remain able to fly in and out.

Find out more: Preserving Bat Caves in Michigan (NPR)

Photo © Laura Hastings