After last winter’s discovery of White-nose Syndrome (WNS) in Island bats, officials from the Forests, Fish and Wildlife division are asking the public to report sightings of live or dead bats on Prince Edward Island this winter. WNS is a fatal fungal infection that has been decimating bat populations across much of eastern North America and this was the first time it was reported on the Island.
"Last winter we received reports of dead and live bats in several Island communities and it was later determined that they were suffering from White Nose Syndrome," said Rosemary Curley, biologist with the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division. "If people report when and where they see live or dead bats during the winter months, it will help us to get a better picture of bat populations on PEI and possibly provide some insights into their survival and what the future may hold for bats."
White-nose Syndrome is a fungal infection that causes bats to wake up frequently during hibernation. This uses energy from their vital fat stores which would normally help them to survive the winter months. Once these fat stores are depleted, the bat will emerge to look for more food but their typical insect prey is not available during the winter months so they die of starvation and hypothermia. Over the last several years, it is estimated that more than six million bats in eastern North America have been killed by this disease which continues to spread into new regions. Recently, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended that the Maritime's three species of hibernating bats be listed as endangered due to the impacts of WNS. This includes the Little Brown bats and Northern Long-eared bats that inhabit the Island.
Forests, Fish and Wildlife staff work closely with the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College to identify bat White-nose Syndrome but, unfortunately, to date there is little that can be done to protect bats from the infection. This is bad news because of the crucial roles bats play in our environment and economy. Every night during spring and summer, a single bat will eat hundreds of flying insects that are serious agricultural and forest pests.
White-nose Syndrome is not harmful to humans but people should never touch or handle any wild animal that is behaving in an abnormal manner. At present, the best conservation approach is to prevent disturbances to hibernating bats and to preserve their summer roosting sites.
Wildlife officials are interested in information regarding any winter sightings of live or dead bats. This may help to locate over-wintering sites on Prince Edward Island so that further monitoring can take place. People can contact the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division at (902) 368-4683 or the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre, AVC, at (902) 628-4314.