The only mammals capable of true flight are set to have their day this week, and everyone in B.C. is invited to join in and celebrate.
The BC Community Bat Programs are encouraging residents and communities across the province to celebrate Bat Appreciation Day on Thursday, April 17, as it is a great way to learn about these fascinating night creatures. B.C. has the highest diversity of bats in Canada, with at least 15 different species, and the day of appreciation will celebrate all of them and highlight their vital role in ecosystems.
In partnership with the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the programs provide information and promote citizen science and local stewardship, and are supported by funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BC Conservation Foundation, the province and many regional partners. To celebrate, the program is calling on residents to visit its website, bcbats.ca, where it has a special section celebrating Bat Appreciation Day, or the local library to learn more about these unique mammals.
"Visit your local library, some now carry BatPacks that have bat detectors, so you can listen for bats outside at dusk," said Okanagan Community Bat Program regional coordinator Paula Rodriguez de la Vega.
Bat activity sheets and NatureKids BC Bat ID cards are also available on the website for kids to learn more about bats while having fun.
Bats are starting to become active again after their winter hibernation, and Rodriguez de la Vega said to "keep an eye out" for them during the evenings after sunset.
"Two B.C. bat species migrate and are now returning from down south, while the rest of the species are waking up after their long hibernation period, mostly in caves, mines or deep in rock crevices," she said.
Bats face a wide variety of challenges and many species are listed as being at risk. White-nose syndrome, a fungus that attacks bats while they are hibernating, is one threat that has killed millions of bats in eastern North America. The disease does not affect people or pets and grows on bats' faces to give the appearance of a white nose.
Rodriguez de la Vega said that people can help monitor for white-nose syndrome by reporting any dead bats found before May 31 online or by calling 1-855-9BC-BATS.
Bats in B.C. are key predators of many night-flying insects and an essential part of the province's ecosystem. They provide a massive economic benefit as well, helping to control agricultural, forest and urban pests.
"Bats use their tiny sharp teeth to crush the hard exoskeletons of beetles, moths, and other insects," Rodriguez de la Vega said. "They don鈥檛 chew on wood like rodents do."
Unlike rodents, bats do not build nests, and instead hang upside down from their feet in a sheltered area called a roost. In the summer, they like to roost in large old trees, dead or dying trees and rock cliffs.
"Some species roost in buildings like old barns or in attics,鈥� Rodriguez de la Vega said. 鈥淏at boxes are used mostly by only two species, the Little Brown Myotis and Yuma Myotis.鈥�
To learn more about the BC Community Bat Programs and options for helping local bat populations, visit their website, or contact them at info@bcbats.ca or 1-855-922-2287.
