White-nose syndrome monitoring in Fernie and the Elk Valley is now underway, with biologists asking residents to report unusual bat activity as a deadly fungus continues its spread toward southeastern B.C.

The Kootenay Community Bat Program is calling on residents across the Elk Valley to report dead bats and unusual winter daytime activity—early warning signs of white-nose syndrome, a disease that has already killed millions of bats across North America.

“Almost everyone loves a good horror story with vampires and bats,” said coordinator Elodie Kuhnert. “However, what’s truly spooky right now is that our bat populations might face severe declines in the near future due to white-nose syndrome.”

The fungus responsible for the disease has already been detected near B.C.’s borders in Washington and Alberta, and in environmental samples within the province. While infected bats have not yet been confirmed locally, biologists warn that visible impacts often lag behind detection by several years.

For Fernie and the Elk Valley—where wetlands, forests, and agricultural areas support healthy insect populations—bats play a critical ecological role.

All bat species in B.C. feed on insects, helping control mosquitoes and other pests that affect agriculture, forestry, and everyday life.

Residents are being asked to report:
• Bats flying during the daytime in winter
• Dead or visibly sick bats
• Unusual behaviour near homes or buildings

Bats affected by the disease often wake repeatedly during hibernation, burning energy reserves and eventually starving.

“The excessive energy expenditure and dehydration can lead to bats taking flight during daylight in winter,” Kuhnert explained. “Unfortunately, many bats starve and die.”

Community Science Already Active in the Elk Valley

Monitoring efforts in the East Kootenay are not starting from scratch.

The bat program already works with landowners, volunteers, and local governments across the region, including Fernie, where habitat projects and bat condos have been installed to support local colonies.

Volunteers regularly conduct bat counts and collect guano samples to support surveillance efforts—work that now becomes more critical as the disease approaches.

“We are working in collaboration with the Province of BC and researchers to detect and prevent the spread,” said Kuhnert.

Unlike many wildlife issues, early detection of white-nose syndrome depends heavily on public reporting.

Residents are asked not to touch bats, but to document and report sightings through the provincial bat program.

At the same time, recreationists in the Elk Valley—particularly those accessing caves or remote terrain—are being reminded that contaminated gear can spread the fungus between sites.

Seven of B.C.’s 15 bat species could be severely affected, including endangered species already in decline due to the disease.

For a region like Fernie that depends on healthy ecosystems—from forests to rivers to agriculture—the loss of bats would not be subtle. It would be felt in rising insect populations and broader ecological imbalance.

The monitoring window runs through spring, with reports helping researchers understand if—and when—the disease arrives in the Elk Valley.

For now, Fernie still has a chance to stay ahead of it.

Reports can be submitted through the Kootenay Community Bat Program:

Online: https://bcbats.ca
Phone: 1-855-9BC-BATS (1-855-922-2287) ext. 14
Email: kootenay@bcbats.ca
or info@bcbats.ca

Sources
Kootenay Community Bat Program – “Help Spot Bat-Killing Fungus” press release
East Kootenay Bat Conservation Program backgrounder and regional program overview