Improving the science and practice of using artificial roosts for bats

Worldwide, artificial bat roosts (e.g., bat boxes, bark mimics, bat condos) are routinely deployed for conservation, mitigation, and community engagement. However, scant attention has been paid to developing best practices for the use of artificial roosts as conservation tools. Although bats readily occupy artificial roosts, occupancy and abundance data are misleading indicators of habitat quality. Lacking information on bat behavior, health, and fitness in artificial roosts, their conservation efficacy cannot be adequately validated. We considered the proximal and ultimate factors, such as evolutionarily reliable cues, that may prompt bats to preferentially use and show fidelity to suboptimal artificial roosts even when high‐quality alternatives are available. Possible negative health and fitness consequences for artificial roost inhabitants include exposure to unstable and extreme microclimates in poorly designed roosts, and vulnerability to larger numbers of ectoparasites in longer lasting artificial roosts that house larger bat colonies than in natural roosts. Bats using artificial roosts may have lower survival rates if predators have easy access to roosts placed in conspicuous locations. Bats may be lured into occupying low‐quality habitats if attractive artificial roosts are deployed on polluted urban and agricultural landscapes. To advance the science behind artificial bat roosts, we present testable research hypotheses and suggestions to improve the quality of artificial roosts for bats and decrease risks to occupants. Because continued loss of natural roosts may increase reliance on alternatives, such as artificial roosts, it is imperative that this conservation practice be improved. Mejoras en la ciencia y práctica del uso de perchas artificiales para murciélagos Resumen Las perchas artificiales para murciélagos (cajas, imitaciones de corteza, condominios) se usan en todo el mundo para la conservación, mitigación y participación de la comunidad. Sin embargo, se ha prestado poca atención al desarrollo de las mejores prácticas en cuanto al uso de perchas artificiales como herramientas de conservación. Aunque los murciélagos ocupan fácilmente las perchas artificiales, los datos de su abundancia y ocupación son indicadores engañosos de la calidad del hábitat. La falta de información sobre el comportamiento, salud y adaptabilidad de los murciélagos en las perchas artificiales causa que no pueda validarse adecuadamente la eficiencia de conservación de