A local environmental group in Sudbury aims to shift perceptions about bats from fear to curiosity by studying the city’s bat population. The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee recently organized a “bat walk” event at Park Lawn Cemetery, where participants used iPads equipped with echometers to detect the high-frequency sounds bats produce through echolocation.
Evan Voutier, an ecological technician with the committee, highlighted the growing interest in bats in the area and the lack of research on local bat species. The group’s research focuses on understanding how bats utilize various habitats in Greater Sudbury, including abandoned mines that serve as hibernation spots for some bat species.
Biologist Franco Mariotti, a volunteer with the group, emphasized the importance of studying local bats due to threats they face, such as white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease causing significant declines in bat populations. Additionally, risks from wind turbines pose dangers to certain bat species by causing severe internal trauma.
Despite these challenges, research by the group has revealed the presence of all eight bat species found in Ontario within the Sudbury area. Mariotti highlighted the crucial role bats play as natural insect predators, aiding in controlling agricultural and forest pests.
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee plans to host another public “bat walk” event on August 19, aiming to further educate the community about the significance of bats in the ecosystem.