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The BC Community Bat Project network is gearing up for another busy year. The “Got Bats” initiative is a network of community bat projects established to raise awareness about bats.
A toll-free phone line and website provides information on managing bats in building, encounters with bats, and how to attract bats. Visitors to www.bcbats.ca will be linked to Okanagan regional coordinator Margaret Holm.
“The Okanagan is definitely a hot spot for bats,“ said Holm. “Last year there were calls from people who had established bat colonies in their homes and summer cabins and were happy to see the bats each year, while others wanted information on excluding bats. We offer information on both topics.”
Of the 16 species of bats in the province, over half the species are declining and could become endangered. Recently the Little Brown Myotis, a species that often roots in buildings, was listed as Federally Endangered due to the devastating impacts of White Nose Syndrome in eastern Canada. This introduced fungus has killed approximately six million bats in North America. Since the disease is not thought to be in western Canada, community bat projects are doing all they can to promote bat conservation prior to its arrival.
Funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and federal Habitat Stewardship Program, and supported by the BC Conservation Foundation, the Okanagan Community Bat Program is soliciting information on bats roost locations and can provide site visits and advice to residents with bats in buildings.
“We are encouraging people to report their bat colonies to the BC Bats program and to help by doing bat counts. This can provide important information on whether local bat populations are going up or down,” stated Holm. Just relax in a comfortable lawn chair and count bats exiting a building just before it is fully dark. The bat program will provide count sheets and instructions.
If you need help with bats on your property, would like to start a bat count, or want more information on bats, visit www.bcbats.ca or call 1-855-9BC-BATS (922-2287).
