The skin microbiome is an integral part of its host, capable of aiding in wound healing and defending against pathogens. While the skin microbiome is susceptible to changes due to contact with the environment, it has also been shown to be host- or species-specific, implying that certain microbes play defined roles in the host-microbiome relationship. Bats present an interesting study system for exploring both the protective role and temporal changes in the skin microbiome, as bats alternate between active periods and hibernation throughout the year. During hibernation, a bat’s immune system becomes downregulated, making it more vulnerable to infection by surrounding pathogens. Despite constant exposure to the fungal pathogen responsible for white-nose syndrome in Nearctic bats, Palearctic bats remain uninfected. Symbionts residing on the skin of Palearctic bats may help mitigate infection by increasing the abundance of protective antifungal bacteria, thus defending the bats from fatal infection. To investigate whether the skin microbiome of bats could potentially become more protective during hibernation, we collected swab samples from five European bat species during both the active period and hibernation. A comparison of the sequenced samples will reveal whether the bacterial composition on the skin shifts to contain more bacteria with described antifungal properties during winter, when bats are torpid and exposed to the white-nose pathogen. This information will advance our understanding of how Palearctic bats survive exposure to the deadly fungus and could potentially be used in the development of probiotic treatments aimed at mitigating white-nose syndrome in Nearctic bats.