BUILDING RESILIENCE FOR BATS PROGRAM
Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association’s (WBRA) Building Resilience for Bats Program (BRFB) program works with local landowners to build resiliency for bats, in particular little brown myotis (or little brown bat), through annual monitoring with scheduled roost counts and acoustic detectors, guano collection to detect species presence and disease, funding support for stewarding bat habitat, and guidance on appropriate exclusion timing and techniques.
Bats are the primary consumers of night-time insects, including mosquitoes and agricultural or forest pests. Their continued presence in Waterton Biosphere Region is important for both the environment and the economy.
A resilient bat population will be quicker to recover from disturbances like white-nose syndrome, or severe weather through adapting to stresses, better resisting disease, and/or sustaining fewer mortalities.
Those interested in this program are encouraged to contact the project lead at the phone number or email provided here for more information.
Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association
Program Coordinator
1-403-563-0058
eanderson@watertonbiosphere.com
Additional Resources
A short video about the role bats play in southern Alberta’s ecological landscape
A Bat-Friendly Farming sheet by Alberta Community Bat program
Photo Credit: Jason Headley