The professor known as the University of Winnipeg's Batman is going to bat to protect the flying mammals from an infectious disease called white-nose syndrome.
"It was introduced from Europe somewhere and was first observed in New York state in 2008, and it has been killing millions of bats since," Craig Willis said Monday. "It's not in Manitoba yet but it's working its way here."
Bats in Europe have developed a resistance to the disease and Willis is determined to enable Canadian bats to adopt those adaptations. The syndrome affects both the little brown and northern long-eared species in Manitoba, which are both endangered, Willis said.
"A few North American bats survived and we're trying to see if they've developed some inheritable traits," Willis said. "We're testing a project where we can provide a good quality habitat, especially in summertime."
But first, Willis is seeking help to count the number of bats — particularly in Manitoba and Ontario — as there's no good estimate of the population.
Bats play a crucial ecological role by eating night-flying insects that can harm crops, including corn.
There are at least 25,000 little brown bats that live in the buildings and houses of small towns throughout the province. Another five species of bats live in Manitoba caves, underground caverns and buildings. There's even a bat detector app available for iPhones to help would-be searchers identify the species.
For more info, check the Neighbourhood Bat Watch website.
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