Animals’ mortality due to transportation infrastructure is a significant problem for some species. Scale of mortality in part depends on their behavior near railways and other transport routes. We studied the mortality and flight activity of bats in 7 double-track electrified (i.e., leading the catenary, a railway overhead electric line) railway sites in Poland. We aimed to measure the likelihood that bats use areas which pose a potential risk of collision with trains. During acoustic (ultrasound detectors) and visual (thermal imaging cameras) observations, we identified bats’ positions near the railway (A — high above catenary; B — close (< 1 m) but not under catenary; C — the space destined for passing trains between tracks, traction poles, and the top of the catenary; D — at the side of the railway and next to vegetation without crossing the railway area; and E — under bridges) in different habitats (forest, water, open, urbanized). Bat activity was significantly lower (4%) in high-risk impact zone (C) than that in other zones (96%). However, bats were more prone to occur in high-risk impact zones in urbanized and open habitats, whereas, in water and forest habitats, bats occurred much less frequently. In forest sections of the railways, flights along the railway typically took place between the line and vegetation (zone D), or close to the catenary (zone B). We detected significant differences between species activity in and outside the high-impact zone (C) and other zones (A, B, D, E). Open-spaced and high-flying common noctule Nyctalus noctula usually flew or foraged above the railway area. Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii almost exclusively sought food above lakes or rivers and under the railway bridges. In serotines Eptesicus and pipistrelles Pipistrellus group, there was a higher tendency to use a high-risk impact zone. The search for bat casualties conducted by the researchers and a trained dog revealed one dead bat under the 50-m overpass of the two-track railway immediately following the simultaneous passage of two trains. We assumed that there is a lower chance of bat collisions with trains than with cars because of the low level of nighttime traffic on railways, when bats are active, and the specific arrangement of electrified railways. Such railways provide bats with additional open space between tracks with electrification system and the forest edge, or above the catenary for foraging and commuting. Bats utilize this space and avoid flying in the area over the track that is cluttered by the catenary; this may reduce their exposure to passing trains and the likelihood of collisions.

交通基础设施造成的动物死亡对某些物种来说是一个重大问题。死亡率的规模部分取决于他们在铁路和其他运输路线附近的行为。我们研究了波兰 7 个双轨电气化（即引导悬链线，铁路架空电线）铁路站点中蝙蝠的死亡率和飞行活动。我们旨在衡量蝙蝠使用可能与火车相撞的区域的可能性。在声学（超声波探测器）和视觉（热成像相机）观察期间，我们确定了蝙蝠在铁路附近的位置（A - 悬链线上方高；B - 靠近（< 1 m）但不在悬链线下方；C - 预定通过的空间在轨道、牵引杆和悬链线顶部之间的列车；D——在铁路一侧和植被旁边，不跨越铁路区域；和 E——在桥下）在不同的栖息地（森林、水域、开放、城市化）。蝙蝠活动在高风险影响区 (C) 显着低于其他区域 (96%) (4%)。然而，蝙蝠更容易出现在城市化和开放栖息地的高风险影响区，而在水域和森林栖息地，蝙蝠的出现频率要低得多。在铁路的森林路段，铁路沿线的飞行通常发生在线路和植被之间（D 区），或靠近悬链线（B 区）。我们检测到高影响区 (C) 和其他区域 (A、B、D、E) 内外的物种活动之间存在显着差异。开放空间和高飞的共同小球 城市化）。蝙蝠活动在高风险影响区 (C) 显着低于其他区域 (96%) (4%)。然而，蝙蝠更容易出现在城市化和开放栖息地的高风险影响区，而在水域和森林栖息地，蝙蝠的出现频率要低得多。在铁路的森林路段，铁路沿线的飞行通常发生在线路和植被之间（D 区），或靠近悬链线（B 区）。我们检测到高影响区 (C) 和其他区域 (A、B、D、E) 内外的物种活动之间存在显着差异。开放空间和高飞的共同小球 城市化）。蝙蝠活动在高风险影响区 (C) 显着低于其他区域 (96%) (4%)。然而，蝙蝠更容易出现在城市化和开放栖息地的高风险影响区，而在水域和森林栖息地，蝙蝠的出现频率要低得多。在铁路的森林路段，铁路沿线的飞行通常发生在线路和植被之间（D 区），或靠近悬链线（B 区）。我们检测到高影响区 (C) 和其他区域 (A、B、D、E) 内外的物种活动之间存在显着差异。开放空间和高飞的共同小球 在水域和森林栖息地，蝙蝠的出现频率要低得多。在铁路的森林路段，铁路沿线的飞行通常发生在线路和植被之间（D 区），或靠近悬链线（B 区）。我们检测到高影响区 (C) 和其他区域 (A、B、D、E) 内外的物种活动之间存在显着差异。开放空间和高飞的共同小球 在水域和森林栖息地，蝙蝠的出现频率要低得多。在铁路的森林路段，铁路沿线的飞行通常发生在线路和植被之间（D 区），或靠近悬链线（B 区）。我们检测到高影响区 (C) 和其他区域 (A、B、D、E) 内外的物种活动之间存在显着差异。开放空间和高飞的共同小球Nyctalus noctula通常在铁路区域上方飞行或觅食。Daubenton 的蝙蝠Myotis daubentonii几乎只在湖泊或河流上方以及铁路桥下寻找食物。在血清素Eptesicus和 pipistrelles Pipistrellus组，使用高风险影响区的趋势更高。由研究人员和一只训练有素的狗进行的蝙蝠伤亡搜索发现，在两列火车同时通过后，两条轨道铁路的 50 米立交桥下立即有一只死蝙蝠。我们假设蝙蝠与火车相撞的几率低于与汽车相撞的可能性，因为铁路上夜间交通水平较低、蝙蝠活跃时以及电气化铁路的具体布置。此类铁路为蝙蝠提供了额外的开放空间，位于带电气化系统的轨道和森林边缘之间，或在悬链线上方用于觅食和通勤。蝙蝠利用这个空间，避免在被悬链线凌乱的轨道上空飞行；这可能会减少他们接触过往列车和发生碰撞的可能性。