Thank you for following us this week to learn about the endangered Hoary Bat! Happy Halloween! #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild #conservation #bats #halloween #rangeninja #IYRP Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ Barbol

Human made sounds are impacting bat species, like the Hoary Bat! The sounds from cars and machinery can affect bat communication with each other or their ability to use echolocation to locate prey. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ Forest and Kim Starr

Long-lived species like the Hoary Bat (can live for up to 15 years!) are bioaccumulators. This means that because they eat of a lot insects & each insect has a tiny amount of a toxin in it, that over time, these toxins accumulate in them. Image: freshwaterconservationcanada

Hoary Bats use wetlands to hunt & drink. Algal blooms of toxic cyanobacteria from runoff can large mortality events for bat species. Personal care products & pharmaceuticals can also find their way into waterbodies & impact bat species! Image: FlickrCreativeCommons/ Joshua Mayer

Historical accounts from early 1900-1950 suggest the Hoary Bat was found in flocks of over 100 individuals migrating. Unfortunately, there have been no recent accounts of large flocks. Acoustic data suggests population declines. Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ Jerry Oldenettel

In order for scientists to monitor bat populations, they use a variety of methods. Mist netting , counting bats as they emerge from their roost at sunset, guano traps or thermal imaging can all be used #SARSweetTweet #bats #saskparks #saskwildlife Image: bats.org.uk/

FunFact: Hoary Bats are the only bats in North America that have two pairs of nipples to be able to feed their young! #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild #bats #halloween Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ Jerry Oldenettel

Hoary bats are adventurous! They have been known to forage for food, up to 20km away from their roost! #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild #conservation #bats #halloween #rangeninja #IYRP #yqr #yxe #pcapprairie

Over the past few years, climate change has increased the forest fire frequency and intensity. This has reduced the amount of available habitat for bats like the Hoary Bat. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild #saskpcap

Unfortunately, migrating Hoary Bats maybe become casualties of wind energy facilities. Scientists think they may mistake the turbine for a tall tree and then get drawn in. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #bats Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ SaskPower

Windfarms attract insects, which in turn attract bats to feed. Constructing wind farms near migratory stopover sites can impact migrating critters. @CWF_FCF has resources about windfarms for wildlife: shorturl.at/SV38S FlickrCreativeCommons/ windturbinegreenenergy futures

Hoary Bats mate in the summer. Females store sperm over the winter. After 80-90 days of gestation, 1 to 2 pups are born in late June. Like other mammals, the mama bat will nurse her young. #SARSweetTweet #saskparks #nature4all #pcapprairie Image: FlickrCreativeCommons/ Tom Benson

Scientists have a lot to learn about Hoary Bats! Hoary Bats migrate to the Southern USA but their routes are not known. They hibernate in the winter, but again these locations are not known. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nativeprairie FlickrCreativeCommons/ Bryant Olsen

Wild about Bats? Everything you wanted to know about prairie bats! Find out in our past webinar by the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada youtu.be/7gqig-2bRUM?si=Jc_G… #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ Tom Benson

Hoary bats need foliage to roost. This provides protection from predators and allows them to safely raise young. South face trees allow bats to warm up in the sun. Hoary bats may use several trees during the breeding season &may return to the same trees, year after year.

Hoary Bats and other migratory bats have a few different habitat needs. In the summer, they need open habitats like lakes, meadows or grasslands to forage and drink. They also need treed sites to roost. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever

Researchers have a tough job searching for bats! Acoustic detectors are used to survey for which bats may occur. But bat species can confuse these detectors with similar vocalizations! As acoustic detection isn’t perfect, visual observation is best! Image: NationalParkService

Hoary Bats are known to roost in trees. However, large expanses of open prairie are important for them to breed & migrate. They may use trees associated with rural towns across the prairies. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all Image: FlickrCreativeCommons/Tom Benson

Saskatchewan is home to many migratory bat species! Learn about them in our past webinar by Erin Swerdfeger here: youtu.be/IBdhN-X-BLM?si=gO7I… #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild Image: Flickr Creative Commons/ nessie grace

Hoary Bats live in Canada in the summer months. Like other bat species, they migrate long distances to the coastal areas of USA and Mexico. #SARSweetTweet #naturesask #saskparks #nature4all #agmorethanever #saskwildlife #keepsaskwild #conservation #bats Image: COSEWIC