As Halloween decorations featuring bats pop up, the DEC is using the seasonal spotlight to raise awareness about real bats — and the threats they face.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Halloween is near, and you’ve probably seen bats used in home and yard displays during the past month.

With that visibility in mind, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding people that Bat Week is underway. It started Oct. 24 and runs through Halloween.

RELATED: Two WNY State Parks featured on New York State Literacy Trail

Part of the weeklong observance includes the DEC urging outdoor enthusiasts to avoid entering caves and mines this fall and winter to help protect the state’s vulnerable bat populations. The group says the annual observance highlights the vital role bats play in ecosystems and the growing need for conservation amid ongoing threats to their survival.

“During Bat Week, DEC is highlighting the important role bats play in our environment and natural ecosystem and that we all should do what we can to help protect New York’s at-risk bat populations while they’re hibernating in caves and mines,” DEC commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a statement.

“Disturbing bats from their hibernation patterns can cause unnecessary harm to their systems and recovery. When outdoors this time of year, please do not venture into caves and move away quietly to ensure bats can remain in their natural hibernation patterns.”

Bats hibernate in caves and mines during the winter, where stable temperatures protect them from harsh conditions. However, even minor disturbances from humans can be deadly. If awakened, bats must raise their body temperature, burning through critical fat reserves that sustain them until insects reappear in spring.

The DEC warns that frequent disturbances can reduce their chances of surviving the winter. Entering a designated bat hibernation site between Oct. 1 and April 30 could lead to prosecution.

Residents can also help protect bats by:

Limiting tree removal to winter months to avoid harming roosting or nesting bats;Planting pollinator gardens to support insect populations that serve as bat prey;Installing bat boxes to provide safe summer roosts; andContacting a bat-certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator to safely remove bats from homes.

If bats are discovered, officials urge visitors to leave quietly and immediately to minimize disturbance.