Human Bat Conflict research on roost exclusions

Roost exclusions are conducted globally as a tool to mitigate human bat conflict and to avoid bat mortalities however the effects of these on bats are not fully understood. This study took place in 2017 and 2018 was on bat exclusions as part of my Masters project "Studying the effects of humane roost exclusions on the White Bellied Free Tailed bat (Mops niveiventer) to monitor their movements before and after the humane roost exclusion" at Nottingham Trent University in collaboration with African Bat Conservation in Malawi.

Bats were radio tagged using VHF radio tags funded through Bat Conservation International as part of the Student Scholars grant programs and worked closely with local communities through ABCs Outreach Team and Human Wildlife Conflict Helpline to reduce the number of negative bat-human interactions, and promote bat conservation in Malawi. Fellow student and friend Amelia Reddish collaborated on the project focusing on the roost aspect and I on their home range size and effects in addition to new roost sites within their ranges.

Under the mentorship and guidance of ABC Founder Dr Emma Stone we conducted the study across two field seasons in 2017 and 2018. Dr Richard Yarnell was the Nottingham Trent University supervisor for the project.