Bat populations in the province have been holding their own in recent years but are starting to show the impacts of white-nose syndrome, which has devastated the species across North America.

Nature Legacy ecologist at Terra Nova National Park, John Gosse says two local species—the little brown bat and the northern long-eared bat—are starting to show signs of decline.

White-nose syndrome is a fungal condition that affects the nose and ears of hibernating bats. The fungus causes the bats to wake from hibernation, weakening the animals and causing them to die in alarming numbers across the continent.

Gosse says the condition was first detected in the eastern US in 2006 and since then it’s spread throughout the continent.

It was first discovered in 2016 on the west coast of the island, but the extent of its spread is not yet fully understood.

Gosse says bats play a significant role in regulating insect populations, pollinating plants and spreading seeds.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can help bat populations by ensuring that they not be disturbed during the birthing period if they do happen to get into your attic, and by setting up bat boxes.

Gosse says bat boxes work, and last week Parks Canada put off an online demonstration on how to build a bat box.