Sep 26, 2025 By Garrett Neese 3 min read

Waynesburg will become the latest location to host bat boxes as the population slowly recovers from a syndrome that decimated bat colonies around the country.

The council voted at its September meeting in favor of a proposal by CNX to install two boxes in city parks along Wayne Street.

The seven-chamber boxes can shelter 200 to 300 bats, said Daniel Bitz, environmental services director at CNX.

Council President Ben Humble said CNX is covering 100% of the cost for the houses, part of a company initiative to place them in community parks in the region.

The installations are meant to help combat white-nose syndrome, which has led to a precipitous drop in bat populations, particularly in the Northeast, Bitz said.

“The fact that many Appalachian bat species are now listed as threatened and endangered warrants attention and effort,” he said.

The syndrome is caused by a fungal infection that prematurely wakes bats from their winter hibernation, leading them to become dehydrated and starve. An estimated 6 million bats have died from the syndrome in North America.

A 2023 report by Bat Conservation International estimated that 52% of bat species within North America were at risk of going extinct within 15 years.

The boxes help bats by allowing them to better regulate their temperatures, letting them conserve their energy.

“The project creates awareness to local residents, while providing safe housing opportunities for bats, especially in areas with high densities of buildings and low volumes of suitable trees,” he said.

Also, having the boxes near communities means bats are less likely to seek out attics for roosting, he said.

Council members unanimously backed the project.

“From what I know about them, there’s really no reason to protest,” said Council Vice President William Harding. “This just gives them a place to house.”

The Pennsylvania Game Commission donates the Waynesburg box, while CNX covers the cost of the posts, cement, hardware and installation, Bitz said. The boxes can cost as little as $30 for small boxes and up to $500 for more specialized roosts.

Community partners help narrow the list of sites by giving preferred sites or ruling some out. CNX also collaborates with the Pennsylvania Game Commission to find the best location for a box.

That depends on a few things, Bitz said.

The box should face southeast to receive morning sunlight. It should be far enough away from existing trees to minimize the risk of being knocked over if one falls. And by placing them away from main roads or highways, it eliminates the chances of bats colliding with cars.

An ideal location also helps the bats by being close to cover, helping them avoid predators, and near open water or fields that can provide a food source.

West and Fountain parks have been discussed as preliminary options for the boxes. Bitz said specific locations were still being settled.

The boxes can be mounted on a treetop, though Bitz said the 200-bat boxes have worked best when placed on a 16-foot-high post.

Since 2019, CNX has worked with about 10 community partners to place the boxes at 15 sites around the region.

Waynesburg’s boxes will go up Oct. 7.

Another box will be installed later this year at Kiski High School in Leechburg; one other high school location may follow, Bitz said.

It’s not the only bat conservation effort in Greene County. Bitz said a man-made bat hibernaculum is under construction. It is being installed along the Wharton Run waterway near Wind Ridge, which houses a number of federally endangered and threatened bat species.