BETTER BAT MANAGEMENT
Collaboration | Knowledge Sharing | Innovation
What we do
Founded by ecologist Mark Roper, The Bat Co. Lab is built around three core pillars: specialist bat ecology consultancy, practical tools and products, and our national bat survey / funded projects that invite public participation. Our consultancy delivers expert, evidence-based guidance for clients, our products support better bat monitoring and understanding, and our survey platform connects people across New Zealand to contribute to meaningful, large-scale bat data.
Our monitoring tools
Powerful detectors and rapid automated processing that reduce manual sorting, save time, and lower costs, whilst delivering rich bat insights.
Our Demeter + Bat Pack bundle is $178.25 per month, billed annually. This product is suitable for young explorers, aspiring ecologists, community groups and conservation organisations.
The Demeter Detector is a compact, cost-effective passive bat detector. It records up to 3-5 nights of high-quality, full-spectrum audio and comes fully assembled, tested, and ready to deploy. Housed in a weatherproof enclosure and operable down to -20°C, it features a lightweight design and simple one-button interface. Paired with our Bat Pack it enables fast, affordable data collection to support compliance, planning, and biodiversity goals. Just insert an SD card, collect data, and upload to our partnered BTO platform for fast data analysis and reporting in 48 hours.
To book your survey spots and upload your recordings, follow our QRG.
For any further assistance, please contact us at mark@thebatcolab.co.nz.
Our digital Bat Pack data processing subscription helps New Zealanders detect native bats and turn that knowledge into meaningful action for the habitats they rely on.
Simply record nighttime sounds using your full spectrum bat detector, then upload the files to our partnered BTO analysis platform. Within 48 hours, your recordings are automatically processed and transformed into a personalised report identifying bat species, activity patterns, feeding buzzes, and social calls.
Our automated bat call classifiers have been trained on tens of thousands of recordings, enabling them to accurately distinguish New Zealand’s long-tailed and short-tailed bats from other night-time sounds. This gives you fast, reliable insights into which bats are present and what they’re doing at your survey site.
All recordings also contribute to the New Zealand National Bat Survey, helping build a clearer picture of bat distribution and supporting conservation through citizen science.
Important note: sound recordings used with The Bat Pack must be no longer than 5 seconds in length. This is a readily configurable setting on almost all full spectrum bat detectors. 250GB annual limit.
Once you have purchased your Bat Pack sign up to the New Zealand National Bat Survey here and follow the instructions in our QRG to set up your account and book your survey location! For further assistance, please contact us at mark@thebatcolab.co.nz.
Our digital Bat Pack data processing subscription helps New Zealanders detect native bats and turn that knowledge into meaningful action for the habitats they rely on.
Simply record nighttime sounds using your full spectrum bat detector, then upload the files to our partnered BTO analysis platform. Within 48 hours, your recordings are automatically processed and transformed into a personalised report identifying bat species, activity patterns, feeding buzzes, and social calls.
Our automated bat call classifiers have been trained on tens of thousands of recordings, enabling them to accurately distinguish New Zealand’s long-tailed and short-tailed bats from other night-time sounds. This gives you fast, reliable insights into which bats are present and what they’re doing at your survey site.
All recordings also contribute to the New Zealand National Bat Survey, helping build a clearer picture of bat distribution and supporting conservation through citizen science.
Important note: sound recordings used with The Bat Pack must be no longer than 5 seconds in length. This is a readily configurable setting on almost all full spectrum bat detectors. 250GB annual limit.
Once you have purchased your Bat Pack sign up to the New Zealand National Bat Survey here and follow the instructions in our QRG to set up your account and book your survey location! For further assistance, please contact us at mark@thebatcolab.co.nz.
This product is digital and will not be shipped.
Our community
At The Bat Co. Lab, we are dedicated to bringing together and supporting everyone interested in bat conservation. We believe that true change comes from a collective effort. By acting inclusively and sharing knowledge, we amplify our positive impact.
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We provide expert-driven, science-based consultancy services designed to implement effective bat conservation strategies. Our collaborative approach ensures innovative, best-practice solutions that drive lasting environmental impact, tailored to your specific needs. To find out how we can support you, get in touch.
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We’re dedicated to supporting new ecologists as you embark on your careers in bat conservation. With access to mentorship, training and a wealth of educational content, we will equip you with the knowledge, skills and connections you need to grow and make a real difference. To stay up to date on our latest projects and how you can get involved, follow our socials, sign up to the National Bat Survey or get in touch.
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We invite seasoned bat ecologists to join our global network, where you can collaborate with fellow leaders, share insights, and amplify your impact. Together, we will advance the field and inspire the next generation of bat ecologists to continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and conservation. If you are interested in finding out more, get in touch.
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Partnering with The Bat Co Lab enables conservation groups to play an active, professional role in bat conservation across Aotearoa. We support research, restoration, and long-term monitoring projects. Our tools, including our bat detectors and Bat Pack, help make survey work more efficient, accurate, and accessible. With a strong emphasis on inclusive ecology and capacity-building, we help bridge gaps between science, practice, and policy to advance the protection of New Zealand’s unique bat species. o find out how we can support you, get in touch.
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We empower community groups, from local enthusiasts, to nature clubs and bat walks, to get involved through fun and meaningful action. Our detectors, Bat Pack and user-friendly resources make it easy to run bat walks, host educational events, or contribute to citizen science. By connecting people with bats in their own backyards, we spark curiosity, foster environmental stewardship, and grow a nationwide network of bat champions. To stay up to date with projects follow our socials, sign up to the National Bat Survey or get in touch.
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The Bat Co Lab gives children and schools the chance to take part in real-world bat conservation across Aotearoa. With a focus on inclusive ecology and hands-on learning, we empower young people to engage in meaningful, data-driven projects. By connecting classrooms with conservation tools and experts, we make science fun, accessible, and impactful, sparking curiosity and growing a new generation of bat champions. To get the latest bat updates, follow our socials, sign up to the National Bat Survey or get in touch.
Where bat conservation meets citizen science
When conservation meets citizen science, and meaningful change becomes possible. By involving everyday people in monitoring and recording bat activity, as well as assisting with learning opportunities, we not only gather crucial data to guide conservation efforts, but also foster a deeper connection between communities and these often-overlooked species. This collective approach helps to reveal where bats live, how populations are faring, and how human activity affects their habitats, creating insights that would be impossible to achieve through individual research alone. In doing so, we aim to raise the profile of bats, encouraging understanding, stewardship, and practical action that ensures these vital creatures are preserved for many generations to come.
Ready to take part in the world of bat detecting?
Join the NZ National Bat Survey!
Join a community of bat enthusiasts, conservation groups, experts and young explorers, using our high-quality detectors and Bat Pack to monitor bat activity across New Zealand. Whether you're starting your bat ecology journey from the garden or conducting professional assessments, we provide the tools to spark curiosity and deliver meaningful, regulator-ready insights. It's an accessible, inspiring way to contribute to bat conservation. By joining you agree to sign up to our newsletter.
Our consulting expertise
With our expertise in bat ecology, we offer in-depth insights into bat species, their habitats, life cycles, and more. This enables us to provide a personalised, hands-on approach to data collection and bat management, ensuring that each project benefits from our direct involvement from start to finish. Whether it’s bat trapping and tracking, acoustic surveys or bat management planning, our clients can expect consistent and dedicated engagement throughout the entire process. Discover more about who we are below.
Testimonials
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Sarah Wills | Department of Conservation
Mark spent a full season with our Department of Conservation team in Whirinaki Forest, near Murupara, North Island, New Zealand. He placed harp traps where they were needed at roost entrances - ran disciplined roost watches, banded under permit, and used telemetry to pinpoint day roosts efficiently. A competent, hard-working field worker, he kept clear notes and maps and was a dependable team-mate through long nights in a tight-knit crew. I fully endorse Mark for bat trapping and tracking projects.
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Dale Eastham | Fulton Hogan Ltd.
Mark helped out Fulton Hogan to provide us with monitoring and methodology relating to bats in proximity to one of our proposed quarrying sites on the East Coast of New Zealand. What I especially valued was that his support was pragmatic and well-considered; all the information we needed and nothing we didn’t – on-time and on-budget. He knows his topic because he’s ‘been there and done it’, and can back it up. Being able to communicate to all the people he interacted with on-site and in formal circumstances was appreciated and valued – I look forward to an opportunity to work with him again in the future.
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Niclas Fritzén | Valsörarna Biological Station | Finland
Mark has routinely joined our field seasons at the Valsörarna Biological Station, working on both the islands and the Vaasa mainland. He participated in planning and running harp trapping and mist netting in bat flyways and at bat roosts, he participated in banding under permit, and then tracked tagged bats—often alone—through remote forest and coastal terrain on long nights, carefully mapping foraging movements in real time and confirming day-roost locations by first light. He has been present for three field seasons in Finland, both during the breeding season and the autumn migration. I warmly recommend him for trapping and radio-tracking assignments.
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Dan Fake | Environmental Advisor | Pan Pac Forest Products Ltd
Mark carried out bat monitoring and freshwater projects for us at Pan Pac. We were impressed by his depth of knowledge, clear communication, and pragmatic, safety-conscious fieldwork. He understands how busy foresters are and tailors a low-cost, easy-to-implement approach that fits our timelines and scales across sites. His advice bridges ecological science and operational realities, delivering on-time, actionable reports and practical mitigation. This has supported better decision-making and contributed to improved biodiversity outcomes. We’re very happy to recommend him.
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Dr Morgan Hughes - Urban Bat Project
I recruited Mark in 2025 to be part of a small bat research team in a remote field site in central Croatia. We had our work cut out for us as we had to deliver a complex and time-sensitive field experiment whilst juggling teaching, field training, and ongoing monitoring at multiple bat roosting sites and commuting routes. It is a rare and surprising experience when you find someone who strikes the perfect balance of teamwork, initiative, creativity, and energy, and Mark brought all of this to the project from day one. Looking back, I don't know how I would have pulled off this project without him. I will take every opportunity to collaborate with him in the future.
Our values
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We are committed to transparency, ethical practices and accountability in all aspects of our work, ensuring trust and credibility in bat conservation and management.
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Learning is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to constant growth, both as individuals and as a community, sharing the latest knowledge and approaches in the field.
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We uphold the highest standards of professionalism, providing timely, impartial and expert advice, whilst ensuring that our actions serve the well-being of the species we assess and protect.
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We believe in long-term management and transform passion into meaningful action. We work to not only preserve bats but the ecosystems they inhabit, leaving a sustainable legacy for future generations.
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We believe that true change comes from the collective effort of a community. By connecting people, sharing resources and acting inclusively, we amplify the impact of our collective work in bat conservation and management.
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We embrace flexibility, dedication and results-driven work as core components of our approach, allowing ecologists to explore and thrive in this diverse field.
