The public are encouraged to support efforts by provincial wildlife ecologists to monitor for white-nose syndrome (WNS) – a deadly, non-native bat disease that causes mortality in hibernating bat species. Public reporting of dead or sick bats, or observations of bats flying in winter or early spring (December through early April) is an effective means of detecting and tracking the spread of the disease which is having a devastating impact on hibernating bat populations.
The public should report any locations where bats are known or suspected to be hibernating including caves, mines, and non-typical underground hibernation sites such as abandoned root cellars or old wells. Individuals should never touch a bat with bare hands or enter any known or suspected hibernation sites to avoid spreading fungal spores of the disease. Injured or sick wildlife should only be collected and handled by provincial wildlife officials.
Both the Little Brown Myotis and the Northern Myotis bat species found in Newfoundland and Labrador are susceptible to WNS. In response, both species have been listed as endangered under the provincial Endangered Species Act. Accordingly, it is illegal to disturb, harass, injure, or capture bats, or to disturb or destroy their residences, including overwintering sites (hibernacula) and roost sites, such as maternal colonies.
WNS has been present in this province since 2017 when a case was confirmed in Western Newfoundland. Since then the disease has been discovered at additional locations throughout the western portion of the Island and the fungus that causes the disease has been detected in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area of Labrador. .
To report a bat sighting or a suspected bat dwelling please contact the provincial Wildlife Division at 709-637-2025 or the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative toll-free bat line at 1-833-434-BATS (2287). Please provide GPS coordinates and or photos if possible. More information about WNS is available here.
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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca