By Rachel Leong, Anne Atlan, and Camille Lebarbenchon

This Plain Language Summary is published in advance of the paper discussed. Please check back soon for a link to the full paper.

We wanted to understand what people in Reunion Island think about bats, because bats are important for nature but can also cause problems, and their presence sometimes worries people about disease.

To understand more about what people think about bats, we asked 768 residents to answer an online survey asking what they know about bats, what they think bats do for or against humans, and whether they feel bats are a health risk.

We looked at how people’s age, education, experiences with nature, and personal encounters with bats affected their answers. We also explored how their knowledge and experiences shaped their views about the benefits bats provide, like controlling insect pest populations and supporting biodiversity, as well as the problems bats may cause, such as noise, droppings, or damage to crops.

What we found is that most people recognise that bats help control insects and maintain local biodiversity. At the same time, many people notice problems or “disservices” that bats cause, and these negative views were stronger than the positive ones. People who spend more time in nature, have higher education, or have had positive encounters with bats tended to know more about bats and appreciate the benefits they provide. In contrast, people with more negative experiences or who focus on the problems were more likely to worry about diseases from bats, although no diseases have ever been reported in humans on the island.

These results show that both what people know and what they experience shape how they perceive bats. This is important for conservation: educating the public, creating opportunities for safe positive encounters with bats, and addressing concerns can help people appreciate bats while reducing fear. On an island like Reunion, where human activity is close to natural habitats, understanding people’s views can guide conservation efforts, public health communication, and planning for sustainable interactions between humans and bats.