CWF BAT CAPTURE AND TRACKING PROJECT LAUNCHES IN CUMBERLAND

OTTAWA, Ont. Aug. 2, 2022 – The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is planning a live and safe bat capture, tagging and tracking project within a 425 acre outdoor classroom east of Ottawa.

The evening of Aug. 4. Set up 7 pm, capture and tagging 9 pm - past midnight

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre, 3700 Wilhaven Dr, Cumberland, ON

CWF expects this is a maternity roost and the young pups are just learning to fly. The endangered little brown bats will be safely captured, banded and outfitted with a miniature radio tracker that will allow CWF researchers to follow the bats for 2-3 weeks to determine their roosting behaviour, roost selection preferences and movement patterns.

Little brown bat populations have had massive declines in recent years, to the point that it is difficult to find any roosts of these endangered species. By tracking these bats from one of the few known roosts in Ottawa, CWF researchers are hoping to discover new roosts while they investigate movement patterns and roosting behaviour. Bats save the Canadian agricultural industry an estimated $30 million each year and rid homeowners of pesky mosquitoes by consuming night flying insects, but they are threatened by habitat loss, disease and climate change. Most Canadian bats give birth to only one pup per year and thus have a very slow population growth so the devastating effects of recent massive population declines will be felt for years to come.

James Pagé, CWF species at risk and biodiversity specialist

“The MacSkimming Education Centre has been a great steward of these endangered bats, allowing CWF to install and monitor several bat houses on their property in the past and now is keen to allow the little brown bat colony to stay in the roost in the exterior cabin walls,” said Jame Pagé, species at risk at biodiversity specialist for CWF. “This not only maintains key habitat but it also gives the youth that attend the facility a chance to lean about the importance of these beneficial and endangered mammals.”

For more information, visit HelptheBats.ca.

About the Canadian Wildlife Federation:

The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, carrying out research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.

-30-

David DeRocco, CWF Senior Manager, Marketing and Events, 905 975-4672, davidd@cwf-fcf.org
Heather Robison, CWF Media and Community Relations Officer, 613-599-9594 x 212 heatherr@cwf-fcf.org