Story summary
Across the United States, former gold, coal, and other mines have become crucial shelters for bats and various wildlife species due to their tunnels, shafts, and crevices offering refuge where natural caves are scarce. Bat Conservation International (BCI) has documented numerous animals using these sites, including foxes, bobcats, weasels, ringtails, coatis, javelinas, snakes, frogs, owls, swallows, and insects. However, the unstable structures and environmental hazards of abandoned mines pose dangers to humans and could harm ecosystems if not properly managed.
BCI collaborates with state and federal agencies to secure these habitats for wildlife while ensuring human safety through measures such as installing “bat gates” that prevent unauthorized entry by people but allow bats and other animals free passage. Additionally, a national inventory is being developed to map abandoned mine features, identify potential hazards, and prioritize sites requiring safety interventions. This initiative aims to balance the need for protecting wildlife habitats with mitigating risks to human communities.
Written for “Abandoned Mines Wildlife Habitat” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Across the United States, former gold, coal and other mines are becoming important refuges for bats and other wildlife.
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gold → become → bats
Their tunnels, shafts and crevices can provide shelter in areas where natural caves are limited.
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caves → provide → areas
However, unstable structures and environmental hazards make these sites dangerous for people and potentially harmful to ecosystems.
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sites → make → ecosystems
Bat Conservation International (BCI) works with state and federal agencies to protect these underground habitats while reducing the risks they pose.
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they → work → risks
Keeping people out of dangerous mines while allowing wildlife to use them remains a key challenge.
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wildlife → keep → them
Special barriers called ‘bat gates’ address this problem by blocking human access while allowing bats to fly in and out freely.
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bats → call → access
At the same time, a national inventory is being developed to map abandoned mine features, identify potential hazards and help authorities prioritise sites that need safety measures.
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that → develop → measures
How conservationists are protecting bats in abandoned US mines
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conservationists → protect → mines
According to Bat Conservation International, its Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) programme works with state and federal agencies to protect people and wildlife at abandoned mining sites.
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programme → accord → sites
The programme supports the safeguarding process, from identifying mines and conducting biological and cultural surveys to meet environmental requirements and building closures.
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programme → support → requirements
Before entering a mine, the team first assesses whether it is safe to proceed.
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it → enter → mine
Specialists then search for bats and signs of their presence, such as guano and piles of insect wings left behind after feeding.
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Specialists → search → feeding
They also record historical and archaeological evidence found at the site.
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They → record → site
These surveys help identify valuable underground habitats while preserving evidence of the mines’ past.
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surveys → help → past
The surveys help authorities reduce risks to people while protecting the underground habitats that bats and other wildlife rely on for shelter.
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bats → help → shelter
Abandoned mines are providing shelter for bats and other wildlife
Dark, enclosed spaces make former mines suitable habitats for a wide range of wildlife.
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mines → abandon → wildlife
Bats that usually roost in caves and cavities may rely on these underground sites in areas where natural caves are limited.
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caves → roost → areas
Mines can offer additional roosting options and reduce competition for shelter.
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Mines → offer → shelter
Their isolation can provide wildlife with shelter in places where human disturbance is less frequent.
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disturbance → provide → places
This is especially important during hibernation, when human activity can make it harder for bats to survive the winter.
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bats → make → winter
Bat Conservation International (BCI) has recorded many other animals using these sites, including foxes, bobcats, weasels, ringtails, coati, javelina, snakes, frogs, owls, swallows, and insects.
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International → record → foxes
Some mines also support distinct underground microbial communities.
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mines → support → communities
Which bat species live in abandoned mines across the United States
Several cave-roosting bat species use abandoned mines, particularly in the western United States.
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species → live → States
BCI identifies Townsend’s big-eared bats, California leaf-nosed bats, pallid bats, big brown bats, and various Myotis species among those frequently found in mines.
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BCI → identify → mines
Nectar bats are also occasionally spotted, especially in the southwest.
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bats → spot → southwest
The distribution of abandoned mines reflects the country's mining history.
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distribution → abandon → history
Coal mines occur throughout the United States but are most common in the east.
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mines → occur → east
The west has a particularly high concentration of abandoned mines, with estimates ranging upwards of 500,000.
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estimates → have → 500,000
Many date to the 1800s and early 1900s, although some mining activities are much older.
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activities → date → 1800s
Balancing public safety with wildlife conservation
Abandoned mines can contain unstable rocks, poisonous gases, and dangerous drops.
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mines → balance → rocks
Open shafts and tunnels may also collapse, while some sites create environmental hazards such as acid mine drainage, which can contaminate soil and water.
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which → collapse → soil
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), its USMIN project is building a national inventory of abandoned hardrock mine features using information from federal, state and tribal agencies.
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project → accord → agencies
The inventory aims to improve risk assessment, support land management decisions and help prioritise hazard mitigation and ecosystem restoration.
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inventory → aim → mitigation
At individual sites, bat gates provide one way to address safety concerns without removing wildlife habitat.
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gates → provide → habitat
Their horizontal bars allow bats to fly through while preventing people from entering.
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bats → allow → people
The approach helps authorities balance public safety with the protection of underground ecosystems.
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authorities → help → ecosystems
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