Permitting Required: A mandatory Bat Exclusion Permit from the Ministry of Environment is required before any bat exclusion efforts, including installing one-way exits or exclusion devices. Contact Field Offices for a permit.

All other Provinces and Territories: Contact local Field Offices to determine if there are permit requirements.

Lesson 3: Human Health & Misinformation

Histoplasmosis

Rabies

Rabies Hotlines - contacts by province or territory

British Columbia - Contact your local community health centre
Alberta - Call 8-1-1 or the rabies hotline 1-844-427-6847
Saskatchewan - Call 8-1-1 or the rabies hotline 1-844-772-2437
Manitoba - contact Health Links - Info Santé in Winnipeg at 204-788-8200 or toll free at 1-888-315-9257
Ontario - call the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRF) Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656
Quebec - call 8-1-1, concerns about the behaviour or health of a wild animal, call 1-877-346-6763
New Brunswick - call 8-1-1
Nova Scotia - call 8-1-1 or local Public Health Office (see handout for numbers)
Newfoundland & Labrador - call 8-1-1, see your physician immediately
Prince Edward Island - call 811 or 1-866-770-7724, for bat specific issues call the toll-free bat hotline at 1-833-434-BATS (2287),
Northwest Territories - Call 811 or 1-844-259-1793, see your physician or local public health office immediately
Nunavut - contact your local health authority or physician immediately
Yukon - call 8-1-1, or contact your local health authority or physician immediately

What are air-purifying respirators? A fact sheet.

Lesson 5: Bat Basics

Toothwear diagram

Bat Basics Guide: Understanding Echolocation

Quick Start Guide: Using Echometer Touch Bat Detection Devices

WCS Canada: Summary Brochure - Best Management Practices for the Use of Bat Houses in Canada and the USA

Lesson 6: Identifying Bats & their signs

Morphological Key Excerpt from Bats of BC

Species Table for Eastern Canada - Descriptions of Distinguishing Features

Lesson 7: Keeping Colonies & Adding Bat Houses

Contact Information for Rabies Hotlines by province and territory (see resources under Lesson 3)

Keeping Colonies

British Columbia - BC Community Bat Program - Living with Bats

Bat Houses

Lesson 8: Excluding Bats

Checklists and Forms for conducting bat exclusions

See Lesson 7 Resources for links to Bat House Resources

Lesson 9: Identifying Hazards & WNS Decontamination Protocols

Note: The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative's Bat Health Program works cooperatively with the US Fish & Wildlife Service to provide coordinated strategies for white-nose syndrome decontamination. Always check for the most recent version of the protocols as we have seen these updated with slight changes over the years. Currently, the protocols listed below are directed at professionals capturing bats. Use the protocols to find the appropriate products and protocols for decontaminating equipment and clothing. If you are in an attic used by bats and with bat guano at any time of year - you need to decontaminate any of the equipment used or clothing and shoes worn into the site. Do not get into your vehicle wearing contaminated clothing as this is a prime way to move fungal spores from one site to another. Use coveralls or change clothes.

CWHC - Recommendations for white-nose syndrome decontamination during summer activities (English)

CWHC - Recommendations for white-nose syndrome decontamination during summer activities (French)

CWHC- Canadian National White-nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol for entering bat hibernacula (English)
CWHC - Canadian National White-nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol for entering bat hibernacula (French)

CWHC - Caver’s Guide to White-nose Syndrome Decontamination (English)

CWHC - Caver’s Guide to White-nose Syndrome Decontamination (French)

Video on Decontamination for white-nose syndrome (CWHC)

USA - US Fish & Wildlife Service - White-nose Syndrome General Information
USA - US Fish & Wildlife Service - White-nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocols (2024)