Ripley Bat Farm

The story & science behind the "Ripley Bat Farm"

Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) were once among the most common mammal species in Western New York (WNY). Unfortunately, they have experienced over a 90% decline due to White-nose Syndrome, a disease caused by an invasive species of fungus that thrives in caves and infects bats while they hibernate. Bats are vital animals and contribute over $20 million in agricultural services via insect control per county in WNY annually. As essential pollinators and insectivores, these harmless creatures provide vital services to maintain healthy ecosystems everywhere they live around the globe.

However, Little Brown Bats are at a critical conservation crossroads. Habitat destruction and White-nose Syndrome have put Little Brown Bats and other bat species at significant risk of disappearing. One of the region's largest Little Brown Bat maternity colonies resides in Chautauqua County, on a partially developed agricultural site in the Town of Ripley. Living in a detached barn next to a pre-Civil War era home, these bats have coexisted peacefully with humans for generations. Thanks to the family's deep reverence for them, the colony has been roosting on the property for years. In fact, some estimations suggest they have been on the property for over 150 years. There were once over 1,700 bats roosting here, but that number dropped to under 40 due to White-nose Syndrome. However, the Buffalo Bat Habitat’s Executive Director has been monitoring the colony’s growth since 2016, finding the population is stabilizing and potentially rebounding.

Unfortunately, the current owners can no longer maintain their property and approached Buffalo Bat Habitat about conserving their homestead. As they prepare to move, the habitat they have dutifully stewarded is now going up for sale, threatening the colony's future. This colony displays unique qualities that have helped it persist in the face of White-nose Syndrome. Due to its ongoing recovery, this is one of the most important bat colonies in the region and is absolutely irreplaceable. Ecologically, the property creates a critical habitat linkage along an important migratory pathway. In addition to the bat colony, there is nearly half of a mile of Lake Erie cliff, 15 acres of forest, 7 acres of wetlands and a bald eagle’s nest. Beyond its ecological importance, the property has deep cultural significance. Overlooking Lake Erie, this property has an archeological site that has been the subject of two books and is considered significant by The Archeological Conservancy for better understanding the lives of First Peoples in the region. The site is also the resting place of numerous ancestors of First Peoples and should be treated with dignity and respect.

In response to this urgent need for conservation, Buffalo Bat Habitat is leading a fundraising effort to acquire and permanently protect the land. We have applied for nearly $500,000 in grants, secured local government support, and launched a campaign to create a space focused on public education and environmental preservation.

Our vision for the "Ripley Bat Farm" involves rewilding the site to honor the ancient First People’s heritage and enhance biodiversity. Our plan includes ongoing research and monitoring to steward the Little Brown Bat colony, ecological restoration activities to enhance wildlife habitat and environmental quality, planting a Veteran's Memorial garden with native pollinator wildflowers, converting the family home into a nature education center specializing on bats and historical museum emphasizing the Town of Ripley’s history, while establishing hiking trails to make the property's scenic vistas accessible to all.

While the potential for grant funding has given these bats hope, your gift can turn this vision into a reality. Contributions to the Ripley Bat Farm fund go directly toward the purchase, development, and future maintenance of this site. We are asking our neighbors to help us protect one of the few truly wild areas left in Western New York. With your support, we aim to begin construction as early as 2027. As a 100% volunteer organization, you can be certain that every dollar goes exactly where it is needed most.