Bats and Parks Canada

Cape Breton Highlands National Park is actively monitoring bats and helping to protect their habitat. Check out our story map, "Bats on the radar!" to learn more about this important project. Launch the interactive map

While there are more than 1,000 species of bats on Earth, only seventeen species are regularly seen in Canada. The health and numbers of several bat species in North America are being compromised by a relatively new disease called white-nose syndrome, which could have catastrophic consequences for at least three Canadian species if no action is taken.

The Parks Canada Agency is committed to doing its best to slow the spread of white-nose syndrome using the Canada National Parks Act and its associated regulations to provide protection for bats and their habitat throughout Parks Canada sites. Parks Canada manages park lands and historic sites that include caves, forests and even buildings that are ideal habitat for bats throughout their life cycle. The ability – and responsibility – of Parks Canada to keep these places intact and functional helps bats stay as healthy as possible and will hopefully make them more resilient to threats such as white-nose syndrome. Parks Canada Agency bat researchers collaborate with other bat experts to conduct research with the goal of protecting and preserving them.

Bats and white-nose syndrome

Transcript

Parks Canada Agency Branding Logo

Music plays

Photo of bat in flight

Text on screen: BATS AND WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME

Music continues playing

Bats flying in cave

Bats are fascinating mammals,
and are important components of healthy ecosystems.

Photograph of a bat eating a moth

The bats native to Canada are insect-eaters,
and their value in controlling crop and forest pests
is estimated in the billions of dollars.

Photo of bat with white muzzle

Yet, three bat species in Canada
are now listed as endangered
because of a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome.

Map of New York State, zoom out to reveal Ontario and other parts of the United States.

The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome
may have come from Europe.
It has spread quickly throughout Eastern North America,
and may continue to spread.

Bats hibernating

The fungus can transfer quickly between bats
during winter hibernation,
when they gather in underground openings,
like caves or abandoned mines.

Bat climbing snowy rocks

Infected bats can arouse early from hibernation.

Dead bat on a snowed log

With no insects to eat,
they use up their stored energy reserves, and die.

Photograph of a dead bat on snow

Since 2006, millions of North American bats have died
from white-nose syndrome.

Fade to black

Music continues

Fade in from black to photograph of 3 cavers looking into cave from outside
Parks Canada manages national parks
and historic sites across the country

Fort Lennox building

including both buildings and caves where bats can be found.

Group of bats in a cave

Across the Parks Canada network, we are protecting bats
in all stages of their lifecycle.

Photograph of a scientist handling bats

Parks Canada collaborates with bat experts
to better understand the impacts of white-nose syndrome

Photograph of a scientist's hand with gloves on holding a bat

and to find ways to delay its spread.

Parks Canada agents inside the cave

Park staff are identifying bat habitat,
and monitoring bat populations and health.

Photograph of a scientists at the entrance of a cave with white suits

Scientists and park staff who monitor bats
decontaminate their clothing and equipment,
to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

Photographs of artificial bat houses

Artificial bat houses, when they are placed
in the right location, can provide roosting habitat
for hundreds of bats at a time.

Webcam video of bats moving around

Webcams installed in Parks Canada buildings
can help visitors observe bats first-hand,
and provide opportunities to study their behaviour.

Bat moving around in cave. A second bat flies into frame.

You can help us to protect bats and their habitats.

Bats in a cave flying around

Respect all closures of caves and other sites.
Avoid entering caves, since humans can carry spores
on their clothing or footwear, and can unintentionally move
the fungus to new areas.

Group of bats with condensation

The fungus can be present even if bats are not.

Group of bats in a cave Entrance of a cave. Parks Canada Agents walk into the cave.

Anyone entering a Parks Canada site
where bats are present must have a permit,
and will be required to follow a decontamination protocol

Screen shot of CWHC website.

Text on screen: Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative

www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/wns

which is available on the website of the
Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

Group of bats in a cave

We invite you to visit Parks Canada sites
to learn about bats and the challenges they face,
and share this information with others.

Group of active bats in cave

Bats are at great risk.

Bats in a cave flying around

We all have the responsibility
to do everything we can to help them.

Photograph of bat on hat with Parks Canada logo

Join Parks Canada and other agencies
to reduce the threats faced by North American bats.

Fade to black

Fade into text on screen:

Photo credits by order of appearance: B.Fenton, H.Broders, and J.Segers

Extra footage: Carl Mrozek and Hugh Broders

Graphic on screen: Parks Canada Branding

Music ends

To find more, click on the following links:

Parks Canada sets its radar on helping Bats (PDF, 19.43 MB)

Canadian National White-nose Decontamination Protocol (YouTube video)

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