Opening of the Bat Refuge
During International Bat Week, we’re thrilled to announce that the bat refuge at Zoo de Granby will reopen its doors on November 3rd!
Behind these quiet walls, each winter, small, fragile mammals whose hibernation has been disturbed find shelter, care, and food. Under the guidance of biologist and bat specialist Louis Lazure, the Zoo’s team provides attentive care until their release in the spring, always an emotional moment.
An important survival in Quebec
By welcoming these guests, the Zoo plays a vital role in the survival of threatened bat species, particularly those affected by white-nose syndrome.
This work is part of a province-wide conservation effort, also supporting other refuges across Québec.
If you find a bat in your home or on your balcony in the middle of winter, contact us at 1-877-472-6299, extension 2176.
Your call could mean the difference between life and death for a bat in distress.
But before we can help them, we must first understand and appreciate their ecological importance and let go of some common myths!
Ready to test your bat knowledge? Let’s see how well you really know them!
How well to you know your bats?
How many bat species exist worldwide?
A) 15
B) 150
C) 750
D) 1 500
True or False?
Vampire bats really exist!
If they don’t drink blood, what do bats in Québec eat?
A) Fruit
B) Insects
C) Nectar
D) The fries left behind by seagulls
True or False?
Bats can get tangled in your hair!
True or False?
It’s dangerous to handle a bat with bare hands.
Quiz on Bats!
Answer: D.
And new species are still being discovered today! Contrary to popular belief, most bats (nearly 80%) are no longer than your index finger! In Québec, there are eight bat species.
Answer: TRUE.
There are three species (out of 1,500!) and they live in South America. Unlike Dracula, these tiny bats don’t attack humans, they prefer the blood of livestock and only take a few drops from a small incision made while the animal sleeps.
Answer: B.
All eight bat species in Québec are insectivorous! They’re nature’s pest control: a little brown bat can eat its own weight in insects every night, up to 600 prey per hour! So, it’s great to have them nearby during summer evenings by the campfire!
Answer: FALSE.
While bats don’t have the best eyesight, they have an extraordinary navigation system: echolocation. By emitting high-frequency sounds that bounce off objects, a bat can detect something as fine as a human hair; so, there’s no chance they’ll miss you! This myth dates back to a time when people used such tales to discourage young women from wandering alone at night.
Answer: TRUE.
Bats can be asymptomatic carriers of rabies, a fatal disease. If you must move a bat, wear thick gloves and follow the procedure outlined on the “Chauves-souris aux abris” website, a rich source of information developed in collaboration with Zoo de Granby. There you can learn more about these small flying mammals and how to provide them shelter… outside your attic! www.chauve-souris.ca
