Winter Update
Winter in Canada can mean something different for each of our 19 bat species. Some bats, such as the Fringed Bat, Long-legged Myotis and Eastern Red Bat, migrate to warmer climates. Others, such as the Keen’s Myotis, Eastern Small-footed Bat and Big Brown Bat, find a warm hibernaculum in which to overwinter.
For Canada’s most at-risk bats — the Little Brown Bat, Tri-colored Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat — winter can be the most dangerous time of year. These species hibernate in caves where conditions are perfect for the spread of the fungus that causes White-Nose Syndrome. The fungus dehydrates the bats, causing them to wake from their hibernation, which almost certainly means death for these little mammals.
Once the cold weather arrives, bats also risk being kicked out of a warm home. If homeowners still have bats at this time of year, the bats are likely overwintering. Evicting them now will not give them enough time to find an alternate hibernation site, and they will freeze. The same is true in the middle of winter; bats will sometimes rouse on warmer winter days to seek water or food. If they happen to leave through a one-way door, they’ll be stuck out in the cold.
Here are a few quick tips should you encounter a bat in your home during winter:
- If a family member or pet has come into contact with a bat, or you suspect they have, contact a medical professional.
- Wearing gloves, wait until the bat lands and then capture it by placing a container over it. Next, slide a piece of cardboard underneath the container to act as a cover. Ensure there is sufficient airflow before placing the container in a box and transporting the bat to your nearest wildlife rehabilitation center.
- If you are uncomfortable catching the bat yourself, contact a wildlife control company, but first ensure they do not intend to kill the bat or release it outside. Have them take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center or leave it with you to transport to a center.
DID YOU KNOW?
In one night, a single bat can eat up to its own body
weight in insects! That includes mosquitoes!