Submitted by the Kootenay Community Bat Project
The province’s bats are threatened by disease and researchers are asking the public for help.
The Kootenay Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the Province of B.C., are asking the public for help in the effort to detect and prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in British Columbia’s bat population. Residents are asked to report any bat activity observed in winter, when they should be hibernating, and any sick or dead bats found before May 31, 2022.
White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that is harmless to humans, but has devastated North American bat populations. The fungus attacks bats while they are hibernating, appearing on their wings and faces to give an appearance of a white nose. Bats often wake to clean the fungus from their skin. This uses valuable energy, and finally the bats die from hypothermia and starvation.
Across North America, millions of bats have been killed, and populations have declined by more than 90% in some species. Two species present in B.C.— little brown and northern bats—are now listed as Endangered under federal Species at Risk legislation. As a key predator for many invertebrate species, bats are essential parts of B.C.’s ecosystems, and they provide billions of dollars of economic benefit to North America by helping control agricultural, forest, and urban pests.
The disease was first detected on the west coast close to Seattle in 2016, and has since spread to several counties across Washington State. Biologists say the arrival of WNS in B.C. is imminent, and people should be on the lookout for affected bats in all regions of southern BC.
Without help from the public, detection of WNS is challenging because bats in B.C. hibernate alone or in small groups across the province. Increasing the number of reports from the public is the best chance to understand how WNS might spread and affect local bat populations, and how to respond. Though there is not yet a proven cure for WNS, several promising treatment options are being developed, and it may be possible to mitigate the effects of this wildlife health crisis.
“We are encouraging the public to report dead bats and sightings of winter/ early spring bat activity to the B.C. Community Bat Program,” says Elodie Kuhnert, regional coordinator for the program.
Bat carcasses can be tested for WNS, and activity reports may alert researchers to regions with unusual activity. If you find a dead bat or have sightings of winter bat activity, please report to the B.C. Community Bat Program online at www.bcbats.ca , via email at [email protected] or by calling 1-855-922-2287 (1-855-GOT-BATS).
As a result of this ongoing research, biologists are finding that healthy bats are also occasionally active in winter, and that a few bats even choose to hibernate in woodpiles or under house trim. These sleeping bats should be left alone — keep your distance, snap a photo and report it to the B.C. Community Bat Program. If you must move a bat, visit www.bcbats.ca for advice and never touch a bat with your bare hands. Please note that if you or your pet has been in direct contact with the bat you will need further information regarding the risk of rabies to you and your pet.
In partnership with the BC Ministry of Environment, and funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., Habitat Stewardship Program, and the Kootenay lake local fund, the B.C. Community Bat Program provides information and promotes local stewardship and citizen science. You can find out more about the B.C. Community Bat Program and options for helping local bat populations at www.bcbats.ca, [email protected], or by calling1-855-922-2287 (extension.14).
