Bats are returning to Alberta or waking up - make them welcome
Spring migration usually brings up images of songbirds sweetly singing in yards, or waves of ducks following the melting snow north.
But Alberta's nine species of bats are also returning to our yards, cliffs and forests.
Three of those are coming from out of province - the rest overwinter in caves and are now starting to emerge to feed on insects also making their first appearance of 2024.
"So the bats are now coming out of hibernacula to try to establish a roost," says Melanie Whalen, specialist at Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.
Her group takes in bats that have been found injured or just "downed" - giving them a chance to recover and go back to the wild.
"We could have really warm days and the bats are out and flying and trying to catch some insects," Whalen says. "Then the next day we can have temperature drop, and this can down a bat."
ENDANGERED
Three of Alberta’s bat species are listed as endangered. Another two are under consideration by COSEWIC. Like most all threatened and endangered species, habitat loss is a significant factor, but the worst culprit is a fungal infection called White Nose Syndrome that causes bats to wake from their hibernation, burning precious fat reserves and dying of starvation before insects emerge.
It has been found in Alberta in the past two years, but is widespread in the east.
Bats are often thought of as flying mice, but their lives are more similar to that of a grizzly bear.
They can live close to 40 years in the wild. They have one pup a year with a roughly 50 per cent survival rate. They have complex social structures and an excellent sense of smell.
Because bats can carry rabies, it's important to never touch a bat with bare hands. If a person is scratched or bitten by a bat they need to get medical attention immediately and the bat has to be euthanized for testing.
Rabies is always fatal unless treated immediately.
If you find a downed bat, call a professional such as Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society and they will retrieve it. Often a few days rest and proper feeding will allow bats to be released back into the wild.
Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society relies on donations and is currently campaigning for 500 monthly donors at $25 each.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.