Pennsylvania's Bat-Woman: Bat Conservation & Rehabilitation Executive Director Shares Her Mission

This interview is being made available by the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee in Bucks County.

Pennsylvania has its very own environmental superhero, and she wants to share her mission.

Stephanie Stronsick has been the Executive Director of Pennsylvania Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation since 2012 and she took time out of her impossibly busy schedule to answer a few questions about her favorite creatures of the night.

Q: How many species of bats are native to Pennsylvania?

A: There are nine species native to the state, with an additional two species increasing their range. The Big brown bat is the most common in the state.

Q: How many of those species are endangered?

A: There are currently five species that are listed as state endangered (Indiana bat, Little brown bat, Northern long-eared bat, Tri-colored bat) or state threatened (Eastern small-footed bat).

Q: Can you describe their place in the food chain?

A: All but two species of bats in the U.S. are insectivorous (feeding on insects). While  bats can catch prey in the air, they use a hunting technique called “gleaning”, where they forage low to the ground, sometimes even landing to catch prey. During the early spring, an increase in insect populations results in an increased appearance of bats during lighter hours. Their natural predators are owls, hawks, falcons, songbirds, crows, and  racoons.  Skunks are an opportunistic predator, and will eat a bat if given the chance. The largest non-natural predation threat is feral cats.

Q: What is a lesser-known fact about bats you would like to share?

A: Bats have existed with very little change of roughly 52 ½ million years. Bats can also “turn-off” echolocation, and just listen to their environment.

Q: How about a common myth (other than secretly being vampires) that you would like to clear up?

A: Very few bats test positive for rabies, and the likelihood of humans contracting rabies from bats is even lower.

Q: Other than habitat destruction and predators, what other challenges are there for bat populations?

A: Similar to birds, window collisions are a huge problem for bats. Bats also only have one maternity season per year, and the survival rate of offspring is fairly low (the big brown bat has a survival rate between 67%, with the highest mortality coming in the first winter due to insufficient fat reserves.). White-nose syndrome, a fungal infection, targets bats in torpor (hibernation).

Q: What can people do to make their property safer or more bat-friendly?

A: Planting native flowers, shrubs, and trees is helpful. Using a meadow-style approach rather than a manicured lawn increases the availability of insect species. Pesticides also present a huge problem.

If you found a bat or want to learn more about these amazing creatures or support this incredible mission, visit the Pennsylvania Bat Rescue and Rehabilitation website or the Pennsylvania Bat Conservation and Rehabilitation page on Facebook.

[Questions should be directed to: pabatrescue@gmail.com.]

[Visit the Game Commission’s Bats In Pennsylvania webpage to learn more.

[Visit the WeConservePA Environmental Advisory Council webpage to learn What’s an EAC?]

Submitted by:

Kody Brittingham is the Chairman of the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

Arielle Trost is the Committee Secretary of the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

[Posted: March 11, 2025]  PA Environment Digest