Do you have bats in your house or maybe some bat-related health concerns?
Sure, you could dig around the internet looking for information, but people in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island now have another option.
Even if you’ve just seen a bat, the new Atlantic Bat Conservation Project wants to know.
Calling a new toll-free number —1-833-434-BATS (2287)— will put members of the public in direct contact with a bat expert with the project who can help answer questions and provide the most up-to-date and accurate information about bat-related topics.
The project is based out of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) Atlantic Region at the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College.
It’s a collaboration between the CWHC and the two provincial governments.
Bat sightings reported by the public will also give researchers information related to the protection of two federally endangered bat species – the little brown myotis and the Northern myotis.
According to the CWHC, the health of bats in Atlantic Canada is under threat from bat white-nose syndrome (WNS).
The organization says it’s critical to report any sightings of bats that occur during the WNS surveillance season of Nov. 1 to May 31.
Researchers would like to know if you’ve spotted a bat – whether dead or alive.
The project is funded by the Environment and Climate Change Canada Habitat Stewardship Program—Species at Risk Stream.
