Bats in Ontario Bats around the world have gotten a bad reputation for many years. They have been viewed as carriers of rabies, drinkers of blood, and pests that get tangled in people’s hair, eliciting fear in many. These, however, are great misconceptions that overshadow the benefits these flying mammals can bring to ecosystems and humans. Eight species of bats currently call Ontario home. Bats have many positive impacts on the environment; for example, bats can help keep mosquito populations down thereby reducing the spread of diseases carried by mosquitos. In fact, a Little Brown Bat can eat up to 1000 insects per hour! Bats can be seen most often at dusk and dawn using echolocation instead of sight to find their prey and avoid obstacles in the dark. They fly in many areas birds avoid due to the risk of predation, contributing to habitat diversity. They are a significant part of the food chain by reducing populations of pests that could cause significant damage otherwise, which in turn contributes to a healthy ecosystem. Bats such as the Little Brown Bat, currently listed as a Species at Risk, like to roost in caves, dead trees, and even in buildings. Unfortunately, human disturbance of these habitats has affected the populations of this species making it more challenging for these bats to find places to roost. As well, increased use of pesticides harm bats by contaminating the insects that become their food source. Another reason for the low populations of bats is their low birth rate. Little brown bats only produce one offspring called a pup per year. Thus, bats are one of the slowest breeding mammals on earth making it even harder for the species to survive. Bats hibernate in the winter in what is called a hibernaculum. Bats save up energy in the fall months, storing enough to last them the whole winter. This seasonal process can be interrupted by humans who visit caves, or perform construction or forestry activities, spooking the bats and causing them to fly 12
Little Brown Bat around and depleting their energy stores. Having a low energy store makes the bats more susceptible to disease. One widespread disease is the White-Nose Syndrome, seen as one of the worst wildlife diseases in modern times wiping out millions of bats across North America. Likely brought to North America on contaminated clothing/equipment, it is a white fungus that grows on the face, ears, and wings of many species of bats. In the same way humans disturb bats while hibernating, this fungus keeps bats awake and uses up their energy stores. This causes dehydration and starvation for bats trying to survive when there is no food source readily available during the winter months. It has been researched that some cave populations have been reduced to a mere 10% of original population numbers in only two years. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Ontario Parks | Voyageur
