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They are creatures of the night but also great for eating pesky insects, and efforts are being made to ensure local bat populations are healthy.
Residents in the Okanagan and Similkameen regions are being asked to keep an eye out for bats which are expected to soon end their hibernation and return to their summering grounds.
The Okanagan Community Bat Program, in collaboration with the province, is on the lookout for signs of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS).
It is a fungal disease harmless to humans but responsible for the deaths of millions of insect-eating bats in eastern North America.
Unfortunately, it has spread and was detected in Washington state last March.
To date, the syndrome has not been found in B.C.
But monitoring continues.
Community Bat Program co-ordinators have been collecting reports of unusual winter bat activity across the Southern Interior, ensuring dead bats are sent to the Canadian Wildlife Health Centre lab for disease testing.
Spring conditions mean increased bat activity – and an increased chance of detecting the disease.
“We are asking the public to report dead bats or any sightings of daytime bat activity to their local Community Bat Project (CBP) as soon as possible,” said Mandy Kellner, bat program co-ordinator.
People can call 1-855-922-2287 ext.13 or email [email protected].
There are 14 species of bats in the Okanagan.
“They all eat insects, including those that impact the agricultural and forest industry and those that are disease-spreading pests such as mosquitoes,” said Paula Rodriguez de la Vega, also with the bat program. “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.”
The public is advised to never touch a bat with bare hands as bats can carry rabies.
Also, if a family pet has had contact with a bat, immediately contact your physician and/or local public health authority or consult with a veterinarian.
