A Bat Hotline set up to monitor bat populations in Atlantic Canada has marked its 1,000th call and residents are being encouraged to continue reporting bat sightings in the region.

The population of little brown bats and other bat species have been hit hard across North America by white nose syndrome, a fungus that develops during warm winters when bats are in hibernation.

The fungus irritates the bats to the degree that it wakes them up, causing them to search for food when little-to-none exists.

A bat hotline was set up for local residents to report bat populations in their area, and expanded to all four Atlantic provinces in 2019.

Since 2017, some 500 bat sightings were reported with 101 reports of dead or unhealthy bats.

275 potential maternity colonies were identified, with 18 potential swarming sites recognized.

White Nose Syndrome was recognized in this province in 2017 and can spread quickly, killing up to 95 per cent of affected bat populations. Anyone with a bat sighting or who is aware of a bat colony is asked to call the line at 1-833-434-2287.