Over the past two decades, bat populations in the northeastern United States have been decimated by the fungal pathogen known as White Nose Syndrome (WNS). Of the five bat species that hibernate in Massachusetts, four are now considered endangered, including the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), once the region’s most common. Despite representing the most dramatic decline of a native species since the passenger pigeon in the early 19th century, media reports have been limited, contributing to low awareness, limited advocacy, and insufficient action by state and federal agencies. Here I examine how failure to support bat populations in their time of need reflects tensions between imparted ecological knowledge (for example, about bats’ roles in food production and disease suppression) with long-standing cultural traditions that frame bats as threats to human well-being. These competing influences shape our responses to their population decline, producing widespread ambivalence and inaction. Emerging technologies, including handheld ultrasonic detectors that connect to smartphones, can transform relations with bats by expanding opportunities for direct observation. Such technologies may offer an unexpected pathway for revitalizing human–bat relations, fostering curiosity and care, and ultimately motivating community-driven conservation efforts.