More Information
Status of White Nose Syndrome in Ontario
White nose syndrome is a condition that has killed more than five million bats in the northeastern United States. It was first identified in a cave near Albany, New York, in 2006. Cases have also been found in more than a dozen American states and Quebec.
In March 2010, white nose syndrome was confirmed for the first time in Ontario.
This page provides updates on monitoring for the syndrome in Ontario and resources for the public and people most likely to enter the places where bats hibernate – recreational cavers, researchers and wildlife rehabilitators.
Current Status of White Nose Syndrome in Ontario
(as of May 2012)
• In 2010, white nose syndrome was confirmed in bats from the following areas: Bancroft-Minden, Kirkland Lake, Flesherton, Faraday, Belleville and Renfrew County.
• In 2011, the syndrome was confirmed in bats from the Timmins, Wawa, Mattawa, Simcoe, Peel and Halton areas.
• In 2012, the syndrome was confirmed in bats from the municipalities of Haldimand, Wellington and Niagara.
• The ministry will update this page as surveillance results become available.
• Ministry staff are working with the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre to monitor sites where bats hibernate. This work will continue until most bats leave these sites in May.
What can you do to help prevent the spread of the syndrome?
Although the condition is not well understood, it is believed that human activity in caves is contributing to its spread. We ask that you:
- Don’t enter non-commercial caves and abandoned mines where bats may be present.
- Avoid visiting caves and abandoned mines where white nose syndrome has been identified.
The ministry encourages you to report any unusual bat activity (flying outside in daytime) or deaths to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-866-673-4781 or the Natural Resources Information Centre at 1-800-667-1940 (TTY for Hearing Impaired at 1-866-686-6072).
Take care not to touch live or dead bats. Although there are no recorded cases of human health issues associated with white nose syndrome, a small percentage of bats carry rabies.
Related Links
- White Nose Syndrome Fact Sheet (PDF, 260 kb)
- Bat Hibernation and Hibernacula (PDF, 45 kb)
- Bat Ecology
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - white nose syndrome page
- National Wildlife Health Center (U.S. Geological Survey) - white nose syndrome page
- Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre - white nose syndrome page
- Bat Conservation International
