Humane Euthanasia For Bats

August is our busiest time of year not just for collections as a whole but for bats in particular. An increase in bat collection requests often results in an increase in the number of bats being inhumanely euthanized. Most often we see this when bats are placed alive in a freezer. This is not only inhumane but also causes bats to go into a state of torpor. The ability of bats to enter a state of torpor is what makes them such hardy animals and able to survive extreme conditions.

Definition of Torpor (as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary)

• a state of mental and motor inactivity with partial or total insensibility a state of lowered physiological activity typically characterized by reduced metabolism, heart rate, respiration, and body temperature that occurs in varying degrees especially in hibernating and estivating animals

Bats can enter a state of torpor (relatively deep sleep) for a few hours or a few days at a time. "Hibernation is a more advanced state of torpor where the bat can remain in a very 'deep sleep' for a number of days or weeks at a time." (The Landmark Practice: Bats and Hibernation).

Due to their ability to hibernate it can be very difficult for a member of the public to determine if the animal is in fact deceased or just sleeping. If there is ever a doubt that the bat is still alive it must be taken to a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, or wildlife control company to confirm and humanely euthanize, if necessary.

To give you an idea of how hardy these animals are we have included below some of the circumstances in which the bat was still alive:

• Frozen for 72 hours, shipped overnight to the CFIA laboratory - this resulted in a lab technician receiving PEP for a bite and testing delays
• Crushed in between a door, nasal blood secretions
• Sealed in an airtight container for 48hrs

Please note: None of the above methods are considered humane methods of euthanasia

In order to assist the Public Health Units in managing "live" bat cases we wanted to provide some options for humane euthanasia.

If you have a live bat that needs to be tested for rabies you can reach out to the following facilities and/or organizations:

1. Veterinary Hospitals
2. Municipal Animal Control Service
3. Humane Societies
4. Wildlife Rehabilitators - click here for a list of all Authorized Wildlife Rehabilitators in Ontario. When looking for someone in your area please ensure they handle rabies vector species.
5. Wildlife Control Companies

Please review the links below for additional information on bats and humane euthanasia:

• Euthanasia of Specimens For Rabies Testing
• Humane Euthanasia For Bats Prior to Rabies Testing
• College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) Policy Statement: Provision of Veterinary Services to Wildlife
• CVO Guide to The Professional Practice Standard: Veterinary Euthanasia
• Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act, 2019

CFIA Report on Rabies in Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has a website with statistics on all rabies cases in Canada (including the MNRF cases reported below) dating back to 1988. They update their website on the 28^th day of each month.

As of June 30^th, 2023 there has been a total of 945 animals submitted across the country, including 585 which were submitted by Ontario. Of these cases, 46 were positive for rabies, including 20 that were from Ontario.

The rabies positive cases in Ontario are distributed among the following species:

• Bat: 13
• Cat: 1
• Skunk: 6



Visit the CFIA website for more information on rabies in Canada.



Rabies in Ontario - MNRF Report

The MNRF is reporting on their results of wildlife testing (with no human/animal exposure), surveillance and bait drops. As of July 19^th, 2023 the MNRF is reporting a total of 523 cases of raccoon strain and 21 cases (expired) of fox strain rabies in Ontario since the outbreak began in December 2015.

In 2023, the MNRF has tested a total of 2038 animals and distributed over 50 000 baits. Below are the 2023 positive rabies results as of July 19^th:

• Niagara - 6 skunks



The total number of raccoon strain cases since the outbreak began in 2015 are distributed among the following Public Health Units:

• Hamilton: 215 raccoons, 112 skunks, 1 fox, 2 cats
• Haldimand-Norfolk: 30 raccoons, 2 skunks, 1 llama
• Niagara: 47 raccoons, 52 skunks, 1 dog
• Brant: 26 raccoons, 2 skunks
• Halton: 17 raccoons, 9 skunks
• Waterloo: 2 skunks

The total number of fox strain cases since the outbreak began in 2015 are distributed among the following Public Health Units:



• Perth: 6 cows, 2 skunks
• Huron: 1 cow, 3 skunks
• Waterloo: 1 fox, 5 skunks
• Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph: 3 skunks

The last case of fox strain rabies was detected in 2018. No cases have been detected in 2019-2022.



Changes to Rabies Legislation in Ontario

The provincial government approved changes to Ontario Regulation 557 (Communicable Diseases) and Ontario Regulation 567 (Rabies Immunization), of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, that came into effect on July 1st, 2023.

Dr. Maureen Anderson with OMAFRA has provided the following summary of the changes:

• As of July 1, 2023, vaccination of dogs, cats and ferrets with rabies vaccine products approved in Canada or the US, and administered by a licensed veterinarian in either country (or their delegate), are acceptable under Regulation 567 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act in Ontario, as long as the pet also has a complete corresponding rabies vaccination certificate that fulfills all the requirements under this regulation.
• Dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated outside of Canada or the US will continue to require revaccination for rabies upon arrival in Ontario, even if they were vaccinated abroad for import purposes.

• Also as of July 1, 2023, Regulation 557 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act will allow a medical officer of health or public health inspector to require rabies testing of any deceased animal (owned or unowned), in order to help reduce the need for PEP in cases where a pet dies or must be euthanized for any reason within 10 days of biting a person.

Dr. Heather McClinchey, Veterinary Consultant for the Ministry of Health, also reviews the changes to both regulations in the video below.