Bat recovery in Québec

Threatened by the white-nose syndrome, habitat loss and roost destruction, bats need help. They are a vital component of all terrestrial ecosystems of the world and contribute to insect control, including species that are agricultural and forestry pests.

The Zoo de Granby is a member of the Québec Bat Recovery Team since its creation in 2014.

A network of around 30 artificial roosts in the Montérégie and Estrie regions is inspected annually. Many of these bat houses are located in or near Boisés Miner in Granby, where two of them showed the first sign of occupancy since their installation in 2018.

In our winter bat refuge, tens of bats are received each year since 2016. The latest spring release of the bats concluded a successful season, with the highest survival rate since the refuge’s opening.

Many myths and false information are wrongfully associated with bats. This is why many efforts were made over the years to inform and help the public : direct assistance for people finding bats indoor or that are injured, media appearances, creation of educational panels and outreach tools for stakeholders, etc.

Based on its expertise, the Zoo de Granby is engaged in long term conservation of bats. Knowledge acquisition will continue through recurring roost monitoring and targeted acoustic inventories. The collaborative approach with pest control professionals will be deepened through consultative and training activities. Up to 2023, the Montagnes Vertes region (in Estrie and eastern Montérégie) will be a priority for the Zoo and its collaborators as part of an important conservation program. Finally, partnerships with the cities of Terrebonne and Farnham will lead to natural forested lands management based on the presence of bats.

If you have bats on your property, you can contribute to research by registering the colony on the Neighborhood Bat Watch website. The site also contains useful information to help and learn about bats.