Native Bats: Protecting Every Individual and Preserving Habitats for the Future
As the Zoo de Granby Bat Refuge opens its doors for its 11th season in the coming days, the Zoo’s commitment to these small, winged mammals extends well beyond its own grounds. From providing care for bats in distress to protecting their natural habitats, several initiatives are helping secure their future in Québec.
They are discreet, often misunderstood and frequently the victims of prejudice. Yet bats play an essential ecological role, particularly by consuming large quantities of insects. In Québec, all eight native species are insectivorous, and several face significant threats, including white-nose syndrome, which has severely impacted their populations.
A Commitment That Never Wavers
It is to help these remarkable mammals that Zoo de Granby established its Bat Refuge, which has once again begun welcoming its small residents as of November 2. For the 11th season, the team will be mobilizing over the coming months to assist bats whose hibernation has been interrupted and whose weakened condition puts them at risk of not surviving the winter.
They will receive the care and attention they need until they can be returned to the wild in the spring.
Since it was established, the Refuge has helped rescue, rehabilitate and release more than 500 bats back into the wild. This long-term commitment is guided in part by the expertise of biologist Louis Lazure, who reminds us that every individual matters when it comes to protecting already vulnerable populations.
Protecting Bats, Right Down to Their Habitats
But helping individual bats in distress is not enough. We must also protect the places they depend on for food, reproduction and shelter. With this in mind, Granby Zoo is also carrying out conservation initiatives directly in the field, working closely with private landowners and various conservation organizations.
A recent initiative is a particularly noteworthy example. The Zoo helped establish a first-of-its-kind conservation easement in Québec, providing long-term legal protection for a privately owned building that houses the largest known summer colony of little brown bats in the province. This species is listed as threatened in Québec and endangered in Canada.
Signed in September 2026 with the building’s owners, the agreement makes it possible to reconcile the preservation of this roost with the work required to maintain and restore the building. It establishes guidelines for maintaining the access points used by bats and for carrying out work that could disturb the colony, while also allowing for ongoing scientific monitoring.
This innovative initiative is first and foremost made possible by the commitment of the property owners, who have agreed to make biodiversity protection an important consideration in the future of their building. The project has also benefited from the support of several partners: the Fondation pour la Biodiversité et la Faune du Québec (FBFQ), notably through its Espèces en danger program; the Mission Faune Zoo de Granby Foundation; the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Protection de la Biodiversité, de la Faune et des Parcs; and the Québec Bat Recovery Team.
Beyond protecting this exceptional colony, the project paves the way for an inspiring approach to conservation: recognizing that a privately owned building can also serve as essential habitat and become a meaningful tool in protecting a threatened species.
Every Action Counts for Their Future
Whether it involves providing refuge for a bat whose hibernation has been disrupted or ensuring the long-term protection of a building that houses an entire colony, these initiatives reflect a shared commitment: taking concrete action to help ensure the survival of Québec’s native bat species.
After ten years and more than 500 bats welcomed into the Refuge, Zoo de Granby continues its work by bringing together expertise, research, education and partnerships. Because conservation takes place on many different scales, and every action, big or small, can help make a difference!
Le Refuge de chauves-souris du Zoo de Granby a 10 ans!
Found a bat in your home?
During the winter, a bat found active indoors may have been disturbed from hibernation. Here are a few precautions to take:
- Never touch a bat with your bare hands.
- Keep children and pets away.
- Wait until the bat lands. Then, wearing thick work gloves, carefully contain it using a rigid container and a piece of cardboard, without handling it directly.
- Contact the Granby Zoo for assistance and guidance on what to do next.
For more information on what to do: chauve-souris.ca
