Local wildlife rehab goes to 'bat' for bats

A Strathroy, Ont. area wildlife rehabilitation centre is working around the clock to make sure bats in need are taken care of. 

There is a specialized team of volunteers working with Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre called the Bat Squad. Their mission is to help the nocturnal, and often misunderstood creatures when they're injured and need care.

"It seems that over the years we've had more and more bats come to Salthaven, so we decided to create a branch of the work that we do, totally dedicated to local bats," said Brian Salt, director of wildlife rehabilitation at Salthaven.

Ontario is home to eight species of bats, four of which are endangered. These include the big brown bat, the eastern red bat, the hoary bat, and the silver-haired bat. Bat species which are endangered in Canada include the tri-coloured bat, the little brown myotis, the eastern small-footed myotis, and the northern long-eared myotis.

According to the biology journal BMC, between habitat loss and disease, Canada's bat population has been on a downward trend. A fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome has caused significant and never before seen declines. Another risk factor for declining bat populations are pollution and hazardous materials such as synthetic cobwebs commonly used for Halloween decoration.

"We try to educate the public through our education programs about the value of bats and who they really are. They're intelligent little beings," said Salt. "It's important to understand that if you were to pick up a bat, or poke him, he's going to look as vicious as he can because he's scared, but as they get to know you, they're quite manageable."

Salt says bats typically get a bad rap, but their contributions to our ecosystems and agriculture outweigh any worries people have about them.

"Once you get to know them, they're not bad little guys. It is a little bit unnerving, but that nervousness about bats, I think, comes from a couple of different areas," said Salt.

Salt believes a mixture of bats' appearances in Hollywood movies and popular culture are a primary cause for so much concern, but still second to more realistic concerns.

"Then, the second thing is, you know, the rabies scare," he said. "But in actual fact, very, very few bats in the wild have rabies. Maybe one or two per cent at the most."

Blessings in disguise

Bats actually do wonders for farmers, according to Salt.

"They're incredible in the environment. They take down the insect population, and save farmers billions of dollars every year in just that one action alone," he said. "Some bats, not so much here in Ontario, but down south, are actually pollinators, and they help that way as well."

In terms of declining bat populations, Salt says there are simple ways the average person can ensure they don't make the problem worse. He recommends, in the case of unwanted bats making their way into homes, homeowners should be gentle in capturing and releasing bats. In colder months during which bats are expected to be hibernating, Salt says they can be brought to a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

"The other thing people can do for bats is they can build bat houses, and you can get all kinds of plans and instructions for doing that right on the Internet," said Salt. 

Bat houses can provide safe and warm environments for bats to nest.

Salt does warn, though, there are dangers associated with handling wild animals, and it should never be done if one can avoid it. If you're ever bitten by a bat, it's important to contact a doctor immediately.

If you find a bat inside or outside, contact Salthaven for advice.