Public asked to report dead bats to help monitor spread of disease
White nose syndrome blamed for deaths of millions of bats in North America
Reporting dead bats could help the species survive. The B.C. Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the provincial government, is asking the public to report any dead bats in an effort to determine the distribution of white nose syndrome.
It’s a fungal disease harmless to humans but responsible for the deaths of millions of insect-eating bats in North America. WNS was first detected in Washington state in March 2016.
To monitor the spread of this disease, Community Bat Program co-ordinators have been collecting reports of unusual winter bat activity across southern B.C. and ensuring that dead bats are sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Centre lab for disease testing.
Information gained from dead bats and reports of live bats can help determine the extent of the disease and determine priorities for conservation efforts. Fortunately, no WNS has been reported in the province to date.
Spring conditions now mean increased bat activity — and an increased chance of detecting the disease.
As bats begin to leave hibernation and return to their summering grounds, the chances of seeing live or dead bats increases. Never touch a bat with your bare hands as bats can carry rabies, a deadly disease. And please note that if you or your pet has been in direct contact with a bat, immediately contact your physician or local public health authority or consult with your private veterinarian.
Currently, there are no treatments for white nose syndrome. However, mitigating other threats to bat populations and preserving and restoring bat habitat may provide bat populations with the resilience to rebound.
This is where the Community Bat Program and the general public can help.
Funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the province and the Habitat Stewardship Program, the Community Bat Program works with the government and others on public outreach activities, public reports of roosting bats in buildings and a citizen-science bat monitoring program.
To contact the B.C. Community Bat Program, visit www.bcbats.ca, email info@bcbats.ca or call 1-855-922-2287.