Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario’s Bats: Impacts
of WNS and Monitoring
Applications
Lesley Hale
Science & Information Branch
Ministry of Natural Resources
Peterborough
Photos by Lesley Hale
Ministry of Natural Resources
Bats of Ontario
Ministry of Natural Resources
Eight Species
5 Cave Bats
3 Tree Bats
Hibernate in Ontario Migrate south for the
winter
Photo by Lesley Hale
Source: Paul Cryan, USGS
Ministry of Natural Resources
Little Brown Bat
(Myotis lucifugus)
Eastern Small-footed Bat
(Myotis leibii)
Photos by Lesley Hale
Ministry of Natural Resources
Photo by Lesley Hale
Photo by Lesley Hale
Northern Long-eared Bat
(Myotis septentrionalis)
Big Brown Bat
(Eptesicus fuscus)
Photo by Merlin D. Tuttle
Ministry of Natural Resources
Tri-coloured Bat
(Perimyotis subflavus)
Photo by Al Hicks
Silver-haired Bat
(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
Photo by Lesley Hale
Photo by Merlin D. Tuttle
Ministry of Natural Resources
Eastern Red Bat
(Lasiurus borealis)
Hoary Bat
(Lasiurus cinereus)
Photo by Lesley Hale
Ministry of Natural Resources
White-nose Syndrome
(WNS)
Ministry of Natural Resources
What is White-nose Syndrome?
An agent, Geomyces destructans, that is causing
mass mortalities at a growing number of bat
hibernacula across an ever expanding region.
Photo: Nancy Heaslip, NYSDEC
Ministry of Natural Resources
White-nose Syndrome Facts
• WNS was first recognized in bats in a New York State cave in the
winter of 2007.
• Since discovered, more than 5.5 million hibernating bats of nine
species have been killed by the disease in 19 states and 4 provinces.
• In March 2010, white nose syndrome was found and confirmed in
Ontario bats.
• The fungus was reportedly introduced to North America from Europe
through caving activities
• Mortality rates approaching 100 percent are reported at some sites.
• According to biologists, it has caused “the most precipitous wildlife
decline in the past century in North America”.
Ministry of Natural Resources
How does WNS Affect Bats?
• The fungus appears to disrupt the
normal patterns of hibernation,
causing bats to arouse frequently.
OMNR Photo
• The most common symptoms
associated with WNS include loss of
body fat, unusual winter behaviour
(including flying), poor body condition
and death.
• Aberrant behaviour cause bats to
consume fat reserves too quickly and
die of starvation and dehydration.
• While it is believed WNS does not
pose a direct health threat to people,
it could still have a negative impact
on humans.
Photo: Marvin Moriarty, USFWS
Little brown bat exhibiting white-nose syndrome
Ministry of Natural Resources
How does WNS Affect Bats?
• Wing membrane represents
85% of total bat surface
• Wings play critical role in
balancing physiological
processes such as body
temperature, blood
pressure, gas exchange and
water balance
• Mortality believed to be
caused by disruption of
wings’ physiological function
Cryan et al 2008
Photo: Ryan von Linden, NYSDEC
Little brown bat; fungus on wing and tail membrane.
Photo by Al Hicks
Ministry of Natural Resources
What bat species are affected?
• Over half of North America’s
45 species rely on hibernation;
in Canada, 5 of the 8 species
are cave-dwellers
• To date 11 species are
affected or at risk from WNS
• The species most devastated
by WNS are:
• Little brown bats
• Northern long-eared bats
• Tri-colored bats
• COSEWIC recently
recommended an emergency
response listing of
Endangered for these 3
species
Photo: Lesley Hale
Ministry of Natural Resources
If current trends continue …
• White-nose syndrome may spread to most eastern North American
hibernacula in the next few years.
• Cave-dwelling bats are at risk of being extirpated from the Northeast in the
next few years.
Little brown (Myotis lucifugus)
Photo: Simon Dodsworth, OMNR
Northern long-eared
(Myotis septentrionalis)
Photo: Al Hicks, NYSDEC
Tri-colored (Perimyotis subflavus)
Photo: Al Hicks, NYSDEC
Ministry of Natural Resources
2010 published
paper by Frick et al.
documents WNS as
causing regional
population collapse
and predicts regional
extinction of the little
brown bat, one of the
most common bat
species in North
America, in less than
20 years
Ministry of Natural Resources
MNR Bat Monitoring
Ministry of Natural Resources
Hibernacula Population Surveys
• Most effective method to document declines
• Recently WHS issues have restricted MNR
staff from entering hibernacula so only have
data up to 2011
20000
Hailes Cave
Williams Lake
Schoharie Cavern
17500
2000
1750
Knox Cave
Gages Cave
1500
Howe's Cave
Friends Lake
12500
1250
10000
1000
7500
750
5000
500
2500
250
0
0
1985/6 2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year
2006
2007
2008
2009
Count
Count
15000
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources
WNS PIT Tagging Project
• Bats tagged at hibernacula in
northwest (non-infected area)
• Tag readers posted at entrances
to monitor movement patterns
• Multi-year study in partnership
with University of Winnipeg
Ministry of Natural Resources
Acoustic Driving Transects
• Based on protocols from NY
• Drive route at ~ 30 kph
– Done to reduce the chance of bats being
detected multiple times
– Maximizes the data gained (number of call
sequences more accurately tracks abundance)
• Drive for 45 km
– sampling is conducted within 1½ hours after
sunset, so activity is high throughout the
sampling period
Ministry of Natural Resources
Acoustic Driving Transects
Detailed analysis of data collected along transect in NY in
2006 & 2009
Ministry of Natural Resources
Acoustic Driving Transects
• Analysis of US data from past 3 years
shows definitive declines in little brown bats
and northern long-eared bats in states
confirmed to have WNS
• First transects conducted in Ontario in 2011
– 2 transects in Peterborough area
– 3 transects in Timmins area
• More transects planned to began in NW
region in 2012
Ministry of Natural Resources
Exit Counts
Maternity Colonies
• Useful technique for surveying
population of bats in maternity
colonies
• Good indicator for population
declines and reproductive success
• Provide opportunities for collecting
biological samples at maternity roosts
• Bat species will usually be little brown
(Myotis lucifugus) and big brown
(Epetiscus fuscus) bats where
females congregate in spring through
summer to give birth and rear their
young.
• Good project for citizen scientists
Photos by Lesley Hale
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring
Roost Sites
• The biggest gap in our knowledge is location of sites - need to engage
the public in reporting sites
• Churches and other old structures provide best opportunities for finding
bat roosts
• Largest colonies are usually located along major rivers or other large
bodies of water
• Buildings such as old houses, country churches, and barns are likely
candidates
• Generally bat roosts are locally known
Ministry of Natural Resources
Ontario Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring
• Protocols adapted from
agencies in the US
• Provides standardized
methodology for conducting
exit counts at maternity
colonies
• Packet available to public to
encourage citizen scientists to
collect important data and
submit to MNR
• Various levels of committment
Ministry of Natural Resources
Thank you
Questions?