Silver-haired Bat

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Silver-haired Bat
Silver-haired Bat

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Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). 

Date of admission: April 10, 2026.
Reason for admission: Physical Injury.

Patient History:

Silver-haired bats are a remarkable species found across Alberta, typically associated with mature forested habitats where they roost in tree cavities or beneath loose bark. Their name comes from their distinctive appearance, dark fur tipped with silvery-white, giving them a frosted sheen that is especially visible in low light.

These nocturnal insectivores play an essential ecological role by helping regulate populations of moths, beetles, and other flying insects. Using agile, highly manoeuvrable flight, they capture prey mid-air, making them highly efficient nocturnal hunters. Despite their ecological importance, bats are often misunderstood due to long-standing myths and misconceptions.

Silver-haired bats are migratory, moving seasonally between northern breeding ranges and warmer overwintering areas. Females typically give birth to one or two pups per year. As a species of conservation concern in Alberta, they rely heavily on intact forest habitats, and ongoing environmental pressures such as habitat loss and climate variability continue to impact populations.

In April, AIWC has seen a notable increase in bat admissions, largely attributed to fluctuating spring weather patterns. Rapid shifts between warm and cold temperatures can disrupt insect availability and destabilize roosting sites, resulting in increased displacement of individuals from their natural roosts. This silver-haired bat was found at a school in Airdrie and is currently receiving care at AIWC. The patient is an adult female who presented with bruising over the right patagium (the thin membrane of skin stretching between the forelimb and body that forms part of the wing structure essential for flight). No fractures were detected on intake. She was also mildly dehydrated and had small ectoparasites present in the ears.

She is currently receiving supportive care, including fluid therapy, antibiotics to address both the ectoparasites and inflammation/bruising, and close monitoring of her overall condition. She remains bright, alert, and notably assertive, and we are hopeful to transition her into a larger enclosure soon to begin flight conditioning and assessment.

Since April 10th, we have admitted four silver-haired bats, reflecting the recent increase in seasonal intake associated with unstable spring weather patterns.

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