Call for Public Help: Researchers seek information on winter bat roosting sites and unusual behavior

Dr. Erin Baerwald

Assistant Professor, UNBC

Since the detection, the province is working with multiple partners to implement enhanced disease surveillance and reduce threats to bat habitat.

Bats eat a wide variety of insects and pests. They are essential for keeping ecosystems in balance. According to Dr. Erin Baerwald, bats in this area gather in small numbers.

“Bats, overwinter in British Columbia differently than they do in the East. We don’t have these ginormous caves that you can go in and see tens of thousands of bats. They hibernate in these nooks and crannies and sometimes in people’s basements. And so they’re much more dispersed. And so it’s really hard to find where bats are in the winter.”

Dr. Erin Baerwald

Assistant Professor, UNBC

Researchers are looking for information on where winter bat roosting sites are, unusual behaviour, such as flying during the day, and observations of dead bats.

The fungus doesn’t affect humans, but people may spread fungus through the movement of contaminated clothing. There is no treatment for white-nose syndrome. The best approach is to support healthy, resilient bat populations facing this disease.

BC Community Bat Program: https://bcbats.ca/

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

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by Dave Branco

Call for Public Help: Researchers seek information on winter bat roosting sites and unusual behavior

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