PORT MORIEN WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 6 568 SANDLAKE ROAD, TOWER ROAD, NS B1B 1J6

NOVA SCOTIA HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND 2018 FINAL REPORT PORT MORIEN WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

PROJECT NAME: BROWN BATHOUSE NESTING PROJECT

GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Our goal & objective in year two of this project was to build and install more houses in areas we had determined by talking to landowners where we were likely to have some success in attracting some bats. The building and installing of more houses was met but our goal of attracting bats to these sites was not. With the help of our members we scouted out and installed houses all over the Island. We had really hoped to find evidence as to whether the White Nose Syndrome was prevalent here on . It is obvious that the lack of our ability to record many sightings definitely means that something has gotten to these bats and most likely it is the White Nose Syndrome.

OUTLINE OF WORK COMPLETED:

➢ Identified Areas for Installation & Monitoring ➢ Recruit Volunteers to help Members ➢ Source materials needed ➢ Build more Nesting Boxes ➢ Transport to site – Truck/Boat/Quad ➢ Install & Monitor

RESULTS: We have had very few sightings from landowners across the island that have witnessed any activity around the Bat Houses we have erected. The Donkin mine site that allowed us to erect two houses in the vicinity of where a large colony was discovered when the mine shaft was first driven back in the 1990s has seen no activity around these bat houses. Houses erected in Margaree, St. Peters, Forschu, Baddeck, South Head, Cheticamp, Mira, and all of CBRM have been unsuccessful in attracting any signs of activity. The White Nose Syndrome has been prevalent in North America since 2006 when it was first detected in New York. It has been confirmed in 25 states and 5 provinces, and for lack of evidence of being able to find any bats we are assuming this is why we aren’t finding any.

ASSESSMENT OF ACHIEVEMENTS: We accomplished what we set out to do in regard to scouting sites, building, installing, transporting, erecting and monitoring these nesting boxes. We engaged landowners and the public in this endeavor and created a relationship that will continue to allow us to communicate with those we met and who have agreed to continue monitoring nests on their property with the hopes of seeing some activity. With any luck we will see the revival of this very important species to our environment.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FOLLOW UP: Our plans for follow up for this project is to continue our monitoring of these nests and keep the lines of communication open with the landowners and public. These people graciously allowed us access to their property and are being conservation ambassadors in their commitment to keep us informed of any sightings or activity. We feel that we have contributed some resources to this project as well as printed material (Health Recommendations) to those assisting us with access to their property. We have increased public awareness to this problem and we are very disappointed that we have little activity to report. Although some sightings were reported we were unable to prove with any concrete evidence, be it picture or scat, any signs of this species. We will not be applying for funding for year three of this project. We plan a continued scaled back monitoring of nesting houses and continued communication with our ambassadors.

This project could not have been done without the support of the Habitat Conservation Fund (contributions from hunters and trappers.)

Thank you on behalf of the Port Morien Wildlife Association.

Stewart MacPherson Project Manager 492 Waddens Cove Road South Head, NS B1B 1S1