A brown bat. Photo: Jordi Segers A bat communication line set up to monitor bat populations in Atlantic Canada has marked its 1,000th call and residents are encouraged to continue reporting bat views in the area. The population of small brown bats and other species of bats has been severely affected throughout North America by White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that develops during the warm winters when the bats are hibernating. The fungus irritates the bats to the point that it wakes them up, forcing them to look for food when it is not there at all. An open line of communication was created for locals to report bat populations in their area and was extended to all four Atlantic provinces in 2019. As of 2017, approximately 500 bat views have been reported with 101 reports of dead or unhealthy bats. 275 potential maternity colonies were identified, with 18 possible swarm sites identified. White Nose Syndrome was recognized in this province in 2017 and can spread rapidly, killing up to 95 percent of the affected bat populations. Anyone who has seen bats or knows a bat colony is invited to call the line at 1-833-434-2287.
