ThINC ~ Public Help Needed ~ White Nose Syndrome & Bats

The Thetis Island Nature Conservancy (ThINC) is asking for the public's help with monitoring for White Nose Syndrome (WNS) on Thetis Island. WNS is a fungal disease responsible for the death of millions of bats in eastern North America, which has been confirmed in Washington State. Although devastating for bats, WNS does not affect humans.

Because we know so little about where our BC bats hibernate, researchers with the BC Community Bat Program are turning to the public for assistance in monitoring for the disease.

The typical first sign of this disease is bats flying during the winter, an unusual sighting at a time of year when bats are hibernating. Another sign of the presence of WNS is the appearance of dead bats as they succumb to the effects of WNS. Bat carcasses will be submitted for testing for White Nose Syndrome and would provide the earliest indication of the presence of the disease in BC. Reports of winter bat activity will help focus research, monitoring and protection efforts.

If you find a dead bat, report it to the CBP (1-855-922-2287 ext 24 or info@bcbats.ca ) as soon as possible for further information. Never touch a dead bat with your bare hands. Please note that if you or your pet has been in direct contact with the bat you will need further information regarding the risk of rabies to you and your pet.

Funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Province of BC, and the Habitat Stewardship Program, the BC Community Bat Program works with the government and others on public outreach activities, public reports of roosting bats in buildings, and our citizen-science bat-monitoring program.

To contact the BC Community Bat Program, see www.bcbats.ca, email info@bcbats.ca  or call1-855-922-2287 ext. 24.

ThINC Contact: Angela McDiarmid 250-715-7132, angela.mcdiarmid@gmail.com