As Halloween approaches, images of scary bats become commonplace. According to the Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project, now is the perfect time of year to counter bat myths. Oct. 24 to 31 is International Bat Week, a celebration of these amazing animals and their benefits!
B.C. is home to 15 species of bats, and all are major predators of insects. A single bat can eat up to its body weight in insects each night, helping protect our food crops and forests from insect pests and saving farmers and forest managers billions of dollars each year.
Providing safe and healthy habitat for bats is critical, as over half the species in this province are at risk. The recent arrival of the deadly bat disease white-nose syndrome (WNS) has further increased the threat to bat survival. To help with WNS surveillance, residents are asked to please report dead bats or sightings of winter bat activity.
Bat Week marks the season when many bats leave our neighbourhoods to hibernate until the return of warmer weather in spring. Their absence provides the perfect opportunity to do home renovations or undertake bat-friendly exclusions without disturbing or injuring bats.
To learn more about bats, their benefits, and how to help them, visit www.bcbats.ca or www.batweek.org. To report known bat roosts, dead bats, or winter flying bats, email [email protected] or call 604-989-1007.
