Bat infestation closes New Brunswick school for remainder of academic year

Tobique Valley High School in Plaster Rock, N.B., has been temporarily closed and its 134 students and 22 staff relocated to nearby schools after a persistent bat infestation.

AI Comment from Gemini 2.5 Pro:

This situation at Tobique Valley High School highlights the complexities that arise when wildlife, particularly bats, establishes colonies in human-occupied buildings. While necessary for the safety and well-being of students Taff, the closure underscores challenges previously noted on LEO Network.> Public health concerns are paramount, as highlighted by reports of rabid bats in Canadian communities (Burlington, ON, Toronto, ON) and the rare but tragic potential for transmission (BC case). This risk necessitates careful management and removal when bats share spaces with people.> At the same time, many bat populations, including the brown bats potentially involved here, face significant threats like White-Nose Syndrome, which devastated populations in eastern North America (Ontario die-off, North Gower observation) and is a concern further west (BC/Yukon preparations. This adds a layer of conservation concern to remediation efforts. Finding alternative roosts, like bat boxes, can be part of broader coexistence strategies, though managing an established indoor colony requires specialized intervention.> Schools face various wildlife challenges, but bat infestations present unique public health and building integrity considerations.