Canada’s bats are facing a formidable foe in the form of an aggressive disease known as White Nose Syndrome. This ailment attacks the flying mammals when they are in hibernation and has drastically reduced the bat population of North America. By using humane methods for bat control, Whitby residents can play their part in ensuring that Canada maintains a thriving bat population.
The Integral Role of Bats in Our World
Bats help to keep our environment suitable for habitation. They prey on insects, keeping the insect population in check, which by extension means farms are protected for excessive attacks and people get to go about their daily routines with less hassle. Imagine what would happen if the bat population dropped so low that the insect population got out of control. The damage this could cause could be irreparable.
Bats also help to preserve the green spaces around us. Their feeding habits lead to the movement of seeds from one location to another, which results in more greenery germinating in different spaces. Additionally, their droppings work wonders as a fertilizer, ensuring that plant life thrives in the rich and nutritious soil.
A Closer Look at White Nose Syndrome
The White Nose Syndrome attacks those species of bats that hibernate in caves. An infected bat will have a type of white fungus covering its nose or parts of its face. Bats who have been struck by the White Nose Syndrome usually stop hibernation prematurely and fly around outside. Since there is no food available and the environment is inhospitable, they die.
How Whitby Residents Can Help
Whitby residents can play their part in helping to lessen the impact of this disease on Canada’s bat population by being extremely vigilant during the winter. Bats that are flying around outside during this time may be infected animals whose hibernation has been disrupted by the disease, as the bats that don’t hibernate usually migrate to warmer climates. Additionally, the appearance of the white fuzz on the bats’ faces is a telltale sign of infection. Contact animal control services promptly if you suspect that infected bats are in your area.
Clearly, Canada and the world, needs to maintain a healthy bat population. In addition to reporting cases of suspected infection, Whitby residents can help to mitigate the havoc being wreaked on the regions bat population by taking care of those species that they come in contact with. So although the disease doesn’t impact bats who hibernate in houses, great care needs to be taken to protect these bats since other species are under attack.
The Humane Approach to Bat control
Humane bat control must be a part of any plan to protect Whitby’s bats. To get rid of bats that have taken up residence in their homes, Whitby residents should engage the services of expert humane wildlife control teams like Skedaddle. In addition to being beneficial for the preservation of bat species, humane bat control methods also adhere to animal rights legislation. This means that using these methods helps to ensure that you do not find yourself being prosecuted for harming animals.
Among the humane removal techniques employed by Skedaddle are the installation of one-way doors that allow the bats to leave but prevent their return. A detailed inspection is completed to identify, gently remove and reunite offspring with their mothers before sealing entrance points. After ensuring that they opt for humane bat control, Whitby can rest assured that they have played a significant role in helping the nation’s bat population and by extension preserving our ecosystem.