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Help the Bats

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Build a Bathouse | The Challenge | Videos | By the Numbers | Species Facts | What We're Doing | How You Can Help

 

Update from Canada’s Bat Experts

You might not know this, but bats are more closely related to humans than they are to rodents. And like humans, bats like a nice warm place to hang out over the winter.

report

Read "Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Bats" Scientific Report

Read Report

report

Bats and Neonics Report

Download the Report

Where Do Hibernating Bats Go?

Canadian bats typically migrate or hibernate during the winter. The bats that hibernate will usually seek out caves to hunker down in over the winter months.

Roosts

Roosting sites play a major role in the survival of all bats by providing shelter from weather and predation. They’re also areas where bats can socialize and spend time together. Sadly, in some areas where white-nose syndrome (WNS) has been found, this can lead multiple bats to become ill as the disease is spread.

Hibernacula

Hibernacula (winter shelter) offers stable microclimates that are preferred by hibernating bat species because fluctuations in temperature can cause them to wake up from their torpor state and use up valuable energy reserves.

Buildings

Anthropogenic, or human, structures are often used as hibernacula by a number of bat species, including species at risk like the Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, and Eastern Small-footed Myotis. Loss of natural habitat has contributed to some bat species becoming more reliant on anthropogenic structures.

Many at-risk bat species use these sites as day or maternity roosts. But they are less likely to overwinter there since the environmental conditions like humidity or temperature may not be stable. Of course, this depends on the province. In many provinces, bats have been known to overwinter in the same locations as they used for maternity roosting. In Ontario, it is quite common for Big Brown Bats to use anthropogenic structures as hibernacula.

The Danger in Evicting Bats

The number of bat colonies may be declining as a result of landowners resorting to evicting bats from their properties instead of managing them. Evictions from hibernacula are particularly harmful to female bats since they tend to stick to the same locations, and may not find another place to roost. Experts agree that evicting bats from hibernacula in anthropogenic structures is considered habitat loss, much in the same way habitat loss would occur if a cave site was demolished. However, hibernaculum in anthropogenic structures are not managed as critical habitat which makes it difficult to help these bat species that rely on buildings, barns and other anthropogenic structures to get by. Big Brown Bats in particular are at risk as they do not tend to switch roosts. Therefore, the impacts of evictions from hibernacula may be particularly detrimental to their survival.

Another issue that bats and humans alike deal with is timing. Removing and blocking a winter colony is challenging since bats rarely come out through the winter. Suitable hibernation habitat is not as easy for bats to find. When bats are evicted from their winter habitat they may not have an alternative site and may potentially die. As observed in Big Brown Bats, the tendency to return or stay in one location throughout the year may limit a bat’s drive to seek an alternative. Therefore, getting the timing right is critical when landowners decide to remove bats from a location.

Living With Bats

Did you know that eviction is not the only option? Unless bats are causing health problems to human occupants, it’s perfectly good to leave maternity roosts (especially for at-risk species) and established long-term hibernacula in place. The site should be retrofitted to make the roost more attractive to the bats and decrease – or even eliminate – the frequency of interactions between the roosting bats and the landowner. Safety and health of the landowner is most important and there are ways to improve the roost that promote survival and minimize health impacts for humans. For example, yearly maintenance provided by a nuisance wildlife control operator can include annual maintenance of guano by trained professionals.

Eviction Day

If you must evict bats from a roost or hibernacula, here are the best times of year to consider in order to ensure their survival.

Roost Type

Big Brown Bat

Little Brown Myotis (or other SAR species)

Day Roost

Evict early Spring (before May 1) or Autumn (after September 1)

Evict early Spring (before May 1) or Autumn (after September 1)

Maternity Roost

Plan to retrofit; exclusion during spring only (before May 1)

Plan to retrofit; exclusion during spring only (before May 1)

Hibernacula / over-winter roost

Plan to retrofit; exclusion during spring only (before May 1)

Rare, Do not evict. Retrofit

You Can Help! Build Your Own Bat House

Provide a roosting site for a female bat and her pup! The Canadian Wildlife Federation is here to guide you through every step. Begin by downloading these free DIY instructions.

Spring and summer are important seasons, especially for female bats. Building a bat house will provide a roosting site for a female bat to have her pup. The majority of Canadian bats only have one pup per year, so providing them safe haven is vital to survival and population growth. Bats also make great neighbours; they help control insects through spring and summer.

Download this FREE "How to Build a Bat House PDF

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You Can Always Help by Adopting a Bat!

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Millions of bats have died in Canada over the past 10 years. They may not recover without our help. ~Mike Anissimoff, CWF Bat Conservation Specialist

flying bat

The Challenge

Bats are amazing animals that are vital to the health of our environment and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night – eating thousands of insects, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees. However, many of our bats are under threat of habitat loss, pesticides, white-nose syndrome and more.
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By The Numbers

millions

Bats save the Canadian agricultural industry millions each year.

1

Many Canadian bats give birth to only one pup per year and thus have a very slow population growth.

10 million

WNS has killed upwards of ten million bats across eastern North America.

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Facts: Little Brown Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis lucifugus

DESCRIPTION: Like its name, this species of bat is only six to 10 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 22 to 27 cm. It is brown in colour.

HABITAT: It hibernates in dead trees, cliffs, mines, caves and buildings.

RANGE: Across Canada

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Big Brown Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Eptesicus fuscus

DESCRIPTION: This species is 11 to 13 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 32 to 40 cm. Its colour varies from tan to dark brown.

HABITAT: It hibernates in caves, mines and buildings.

RANGE: Most of southern Canada

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: California Myotis

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis californicus

DESCRIPTION: This species is seven to 10 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 22 to 26 cm. Its colour varies from reddish-brown to dark brown.

HABITAT: It hibernates in buildings, mines, caves and dead trees.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Tricoloured Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Perimyotis subflavus

DESCRIPTION: This species is seven to nine centimetres in length with a wingspan of 21 to 26 cm. The colouration of each hair is black at the root, then yellow, with brown tips.

HABITAT: It roosts in buildings and large trees.

RANGE: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Eastern Small-footed Myotis

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis leibii

DESCRIPTION: This species is seven to nine centimetres in length with a wingspan of 21 to 25 cm. It is golden-brown in colour.

HABITAT: It hibernates in hilly, mountainous areas, deciduous or evergreen forests and open farmlands.

RANGE: Southeastern Ontario and southwestern Quebec

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Fringed Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis thysanodes

DESCRIPTION: This species is eight to 10 cm in length with a wingspan of 27 to 32 cm. Named after its stiff or ‘fringed’ hair, it is pale brown, with dark brown ears.

HABITAT: When it is not migrating, it typically roost in mines, cliffs, forested areas and buildings.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Hoary Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lasiurus cinereus

DESCRIPTION: It is the largest bat known to Canada with a length of 13 to 15 centimetres and a wingspan of 36 to 41 cm. Its colouration is black with brown-grey fur and frosted white tips on its back and tail, and a yellow head and throat.

HABITAT: When not migrating, it can be found in coniferous forests.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Northwest Territories.

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Keen's Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis keenii

DESCRIPTION: Its wingspan is 21 to 26 centimetres wide and it is seven to nine cm in length. It has silky brown fur.

HABITAT: It hibernates in dead trees, caves, mines and buildings.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Western Long-eared Myotis

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis evotis

DESCRIPTION: It is eight to 10 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 25 to 30 cm. It is pale brown in colour with a black face and ears.

HABITAT: It can be found in mines, buildings, cliffs, dead trees and stumps, although may migrate short distances in preparation for the winter months.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Long-legged Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis volans

DESCRIPTION: It is eight to 10 centimetres in length and a wingspan of 22 to 30 cm. It is typically dark brown in colour.

HABITAT: When it isn’t migrating short distances, it can be found in mines, caves, and dead trees.

RANGE: British Columbia and Alberta

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Northern Long-eared Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis septentrionalis

DESCRIPTION:: It is seven to 10 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 22 to 27 cm. It has large black ears and a yellow-brown body.

HABITAT: It roosts in forests and buildings.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Pallid Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Antrozous pallidus

DESCRIPTION:: It is six to nine centimetres in length and a wingspan of 35 to 41 cm. It has a pale stomach, brown back, grey wings and a snout-like nose.

HABITAT: When not hibernation, it can be found in cliffs, buildings, and bottoms of valleys at low elevations.

RANGE: Okanagan Valley of British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Eastern Red Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lasiurus borealis

DESCRIPTION:: It is nine to 12 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 28 to 33 cm. It is multi-coloured with yellow-red-orange and yellow-greyish.

HABITAT: When it isn’t migrating to warmer regions in the winter, it can be found in deciduous forests.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Silver-haired Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lasionycteris noctivagans

DESCRIPTION:: Its length ranges from nine to 11 centimetres and has a wingspan 27 to 31 cm. It is black/dark brown in colour.

HABITAT: It is a migratory species and roosts in mines, caves and dead trees.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Spotted Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Euderma maculatum

DESCRIPTION:: It has a length of 11 to 12 centimetres and a wingspan of 34 to 38 cm. It can easily be identified by its three white spots on its black back and has the largest ears of any bat species in North America.

HABITAT: It occasionally migrates, roosting in cliffs and hillsides.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Townsends Big-eared Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Corynorhinus townsendii

DESCRIPTION:: This species has a length of 10 centimetres and a wingspan of 29 to 34 cm. It is pale brown/black-grey in colour with two visible glandular swellings on its nose.

HABITAT: It can be found hibernating in mines, caves, buildings and cliffs.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Western Small-footed Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis ciliolabrum

DESCRIPTION:: It is eight to 10 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of 21 to 25 cm. It is yellow-brown in colour with a black face.

HABITAT: It migrates through the winter season. It can be found in cliffs and mines.

RANGE: British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Yuma Myotis

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Myotis yumanensis

DESCRIPTION:: Its length is eight to 10 cm and has a wingspan of 22 to 26 cm. It varies in colour from dark brown to tan/grey.

HABITAT: It can be found hibernating in buildings, dead trees and mines.

RANGE: British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

Facts: Brazilian, or Mexican, Free-tailed Bat

COSEWIC STATUS: NA — SC — TH — EN — XT —

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tadarida brasiliensis

DESCRIPTION:: This species is eight to 10 centimetres in length and have a wingspan of 28 cm. It is brown in colour with large square ears, a wrinkled upper lip and a prominent tail.

HABITAT: It can be found in woodlands, caves, bridges and buildings.

RANGE: Salt Spring Island of British Columbia

Learn more about bat biology

The Canadian Wildlife
Federation’s Role in
Bat Conservation

As a means to promote the protection and recovery of the Little Brown Bat, CWF is collaborating with humane wildlife control companies to develop best management practices for their professional management of bats by:

→ Incorporating the use of bat houses in service protocol
→ Promoting cohabitation with bats
→ Promoting alternative roosting sites via retrofits
→ Increasing public awareness, community engagement, and citizen science

Featured Story

Stressed Out Mamas

Roosting bats need all the help they can get during the warmer months. In early spring, female bats seek out suitable maternity roosts in which to raise their young who are typically born between June and July. These roosts are greatly important to the survival and recovery of bats.

Read Story

HOW TO HELP


Pledge to Make
Your Backyard a
Haven for Bats


Support Bat
Conservation In
Canada


Adopt a Bat!

Canada’s bat species are in decline. Do your part to help conserve these important mammals, a natural predator for mosquitos and other pests. We urge you to pledge to make your backyard a haven for bats.

Take the Pledge

Help the Bats is the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s response to ensure Canadian bat populations are protected. The Help the Bats program engages schools and other groups in learning about Canadian bat species and the current threats to their survival, including habitat loss and white nose syndrome. This disease is decimating bat colonies across Eastern Canada. Our outreach program has engaged over 2,000 schools and groups across Canada with a citizen science component that has distributed hundreds of bat boxes and educational materials, all designed to encourage people to monitor bats in their area and send us their data.

Make My Donation

Your gift will help fund CWF efforts to address the threat to the Little Brown Bat from white nose syndrome.

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Build Your
Own Bat
House


Bat Sighting!
Use iNaturalist.ca


Get Social for Bats!

Provide a roosting site for a female bat and her pup! The Canadian Wildlife Federation is here to guide you through every step. Begin by downloading these free DIY instructions.

Download

Out camping? Hanging out on your neighbour’s patio? Log any bat sightings you may see on the “Help the Bats” Project in iNaturalist.ca, our Citizen Science app.

Log Your Sighting

Share! Spread the word on your favourite social media channel.

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