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
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Man throws flaming liquid on New York City subway, burns fellow rider
A man set a cup of liquid on fire and tossed it at fellow subway rider in New York City, setting the victim's shirt ablaze and injuring him.
At least 9 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least nine people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where drivers took shelter during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
As Canada warms, infectious disease risks spread north
Cases of Lyme disease have now increased more than 1,000 per cent in a decade as the warming climate pushes the boundaries of a range of pathogens and risk factors northward.
12 people injured after Qatar Airways plane hits turbulence on way to Dublin
Twelve people were injured when a Qatar Airways plane flying from Doha to Dublin on Sunday hit turbulence, airport authorities said.