Why is killing a bat illegal?

Killing a bat is illegal in many places because bats are protected by wildlife conservation laws due to their ecological importance and declining populations, and because many bat species are threatened or endangered. In the United States, most bat species are protected by state wildlife laws, and some are protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, making it illegal to kill, harm, or harass them without a special permit. In many other countries, bats are similarly protected by national wildlife protection laws. The reasons for protection include their vital ecological roles, bats eat huge numbers of insects including mosquitoes and agricultural pests, with a single bat eating thousands of insects per night, saving farmers billions of dollars in pest control and reducing disease transmission. Fruit bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers for many plants. Bat populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed millions of bats, wind turbines, and human disturbance, so killing them further threatens ecosystems. Additionally, handling or killing bats can expose people to rabies, so wildlife agencies discourage direct contact. Instead of killing bats that enter homes, the legal and recommended approach is humane exclusion using one-way doors that let bats exit but not re-enter, sealing entry points, and contacting licensed wildlife control professionals who follow humane and legal removal methods.