SASKATOON — As warmer weather returns to Saskatchewan, environmental experts are reminding residents to take precautions around bats, which commonly move into homes and buildings during the spring and summer months.
Two provincial environmentalists say residents should remain calm if they encounter bats while cleaning homes, making repairs or spending time outdoors, as several bat species in Saskatchewan are considered at risk.
Erin Swerdfeger, a species-at-risk biologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, and Melanie Elliott, one of the founders of the Wildlife Rescue Society, said bats are often found in attics, chimneys and other small openings in buildings.
Swerdfeger said bats occasionally enter human-occupied spaces while moving between seasonal roosts or when young bats are learning to fly. Those encounters tend to increase during the fall and early summer months.
“Sometimes, they're moving between homes where they are roosting in the summer and winter. In the fall, people notice that young bats learn how to fly. They find a way of getting into an occupied area. But they’re not looking to be in your living room or your kitchen. They want to be outside,” said Swerdfeger.
She added that homeowners who discover a single bat indoors should remain calm and avoid direct contact. In many cases, the animal can safely leave on its own if people close off the rest of the house, turn off lights and ceiling fans, and open a window or exterior door in the room where the bat is located.
Swerdfeger discourages residents from handling bats with their bare hands since they are wild animals. If they encounter a bat, they should use leather gloves and a small container with air holes to catch it. Once caught, they can release the bat, preferably from an elevated spot, so it can safely fly away.
For larger infestations, such as maternity colonies or hibernating bats in attics and walls, she recommends contacting a professional wildlife control operator experienced in handling those situations. Bats can squeeze through openings as small as half an inch.
Saskatchewan’s bats are relatively small, with little brown bats weighing roughly 10 grams and big brown bats around 25 grams. Swerdfeger noted that species found elsewhere in the world, such as tropical flying fox bats, can reach wingspans of nearly six feet.
She added bats play an important ecological role by eating mosquitoes as well as agricultural and forest insects.
Elliott, who rehabilitates injured bats and educates the public about wildlife, said prevention is the best approach for homeowners concerned about bats entering buildings.
Small openings or damage, such as in chimneys and roof vents, can allow bats to enter and roost in attic spaces.
“Killing them is illegal because they’re protected now. They will not land on you. I’ve been in caves with millions of bats, and none has ever touched me,” said Elliott, who added that the public frequently misunderstands bats.
She said many people panic when bats fly into homes because their flight patterns are more unpredictable than those of birds. However, bats are not attacking humans and are simply trying to escape, which is why opening a window during warmer weather often allows the bat to leave on its own.
Elliott also advised homeowners to watch for signs of bat activity around their homes, including droppings that resemble black grains of rice near siding or rooflines.
In winter, bats found indoors may require rehabilitation because there are not enough insects available for them to survive outside.
She said the rescue society regularly receives calls about bats, injured birds and other urban wildlife concerns. The organization also educates residents about safely dealing with animals such as foxes and coyotes without harming them.
For larger wildlife such as bears, deer or cougars, Elliott said residents should contact Saskatchewan conservation officers rather than wildlife rescue volunteers.
