Why are bats in decline? What is the cause?

The greatest threat to the survival of bats is fear and ignorance, leading to mass persecution.  Bats have been perceived as blood-suckin’, rabies-ridden, hair-tranglin’ vermin and have been subject to deliberate poisoning and destruction of caves.  Pollution, pesticides, climate change, human encroachment and habitat destruction currently threaten the survival of bats.