Bats are returning to Alberta or waking up - make them welcome

Spring migration usually brings up images of songbirds sweetly singing in yards, or waves of ducks following the melting snow north.

Spring migration usually brings up images of songbirds sweetly singing in yards, or waves of ducks following the melting snow north.

But Alberta's nine species of bats are also returning to our yards, cliffs and forests.

Three of those are coming from out of province - the rest overwinter in caves and are now starting to emerge to feed on insects also making their first appearance of 2024.

"So the bats are now coming out of hibernacula to try to establish a roost," says Melanie Whalen, specialist at Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.

Her group takes in bats that have been found injured or just "downed" - giving them a chance to recover and go back to the wild.

"We could have really warm days and the bats are out and flying and trying to catch some insects," Whalen says. "Then the next day we can have temperature drop, and this can down a bat."

Three of Alberta’s bat species are listed as endangered. Another two are under consideration by COSEWIC. Like most all threatened and endangered species, habitat loss is a significant factor, but the worst culprit is a fungal infection called White Nose Syndrome that causes bats to wake from their hibernation, burning precious fat reserves and dying of starvation before insects emerge.