Like all species, whether wild or domestic, bats have their own suite of parasites and diseases that live inside or on the
outside of individual bats or are found in association with bats.
Bats and the Spread of Disease
Despite a bad reputation, bats generally do not have any more or any fewer diseases than other wild species. The bad rep
comes from the association with vampire bats (Desmodontinae), which, of course, we do not have in Alberta.
The prevalence of diseases in bats in Alberta is extremely low and any risks to humans easily can be avoided. Although bats
should be handled with caution, the widespread eradication of bats to eliminate a human health hazard is thoroughly unjustified
in Alberta.
Additional information about human health concerns in association with bats is provided at
White-nose Syndrome and Bat Health
There are few diseases or parasites of bats in North America that threaten the health of bat populations. White-nose syndrome
is an exception.
White-nose Syndrome is a cold-loving fungus that grows in caves and transfers onto wintering bats. It is associated with
the death of many, many thousands of bats in eastern North America, prompting preventative measures to be adopted in the
Province of Alberta and elsewhere in the west.
Related Information
- Bats
Information about Alberta’s bat species.
- Human-Wildlife Conflict: Bats
Information from Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife Officers about how to reduce conflicts between bats and humans.
Page Information
Updated: Oct 19, 2015