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Help needed monitoring spread of deadly bat disease
WANTED: Reports of dead bats and of bats flying during winter
By Leigh Anne Isaac
White Nose Syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease responsible for the death of millions of bats in eastern North America, has moved to the west coast and was confirmed in Washington State in 2016. This is very worrisome for the health of bat populations in British Columbia, with near 100% mortality for some species of bats exposed to the fungus. Although devastating for bats, WNS does not affect humans.
The BC Community Bat Program in collaboration with the B.C. government is requesting the public’s help in monitoring the spread of this disease.
“We knew this deadly fungus was moving westward across North America,” said Mandy Kellner, Coordinator of the BC Community Bat Program. “But we thought we had many years to prepare.”
Instead, the disease was confirmed near Seattle last March, and we are gearing up to look for it in B.C. this winter.
The typical first sign of this disease is bats flying during the winter, an unusual sighting at a time of year when bats are hibernating. Another sign of the presence of WNS is the appearance of dead bats as they succumb to the effects of WNS.
“We are encouraging the public to report dead bats or any sightings of winter bat activity to the Community Bat Project (CBP) toll-free phone number, website, or email below. Bat carcasses will be submitted for testing for White Nose Syndrome and would provide the earliest indication of the presence of the disease in B.C.,” said Kellner.
Reports of winter bat activity will help focus research, monitoring and protection efforts.
If you find a dead bat, report it to the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP; 1-855-922-2287 ext 14; [email protected]) as soon as possible for further information. Never touch a dead 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.
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 KCBP and the general public can help.
Funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Province of BC, the Habitat Stewardship Program, Columbia Basin Trust, Kootenay Conservation Program in partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay, and the Public Conservation Assistance Fund, the BC Community Bat Program works with the government and others on public outreach activities, public reports of roosting bats in buildings, and our citizen-science bat monitoring program.
To contact the BC Community Bat Program, see www.bcbats.ca, email [email protected] or call 1-855-922-2287 ext 14.
Lead image: ‘A hibernating Little Brown Bat showing visible signs of the fungus causing White Nose Syndrome.’ Marvin Moriarty US Fish & Wildlife Service photo
– Leigh Anne Isaac is Coordinating Biologist for the Kootenay Community Bat Project
