The BC Community Bat Program is inviting southern Vancouver Island residents to celebrate Bat Week, a global event from Oct. 24 to 31 that highlights the importance of bats to local ecosystems.
“Bats are remarkable creatures that play a vital role in maintaining the health of our natural world and economy,” said Julianna Laposa-Wilde, BC Community Bat Program co-ordinator for the southern region in a release.
With at least 15 different species of bats in the province, Laposa-Wilde noted they contribute to natural pest control by consuming mosquitoes, as well as pests of agriculture and forestry.
“Bats also cycle nutrients between aquatic environments where they eat and upland environments where they sleep and poop.”
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Despite their importance, bats face serious threats that they are ill-prepared to withstand due to their low reproductive rates, Laposa-Wilde said, as most B.C. bat species give birth to only one pup per year.
At this time of year, bats are fattening up for their winter hibernation, devouring many insects every night.
“As they migrate to their winter habitat, they may roost above your doorway or in unusual open areas. Please allow the bat to stay; it will leave on its own in a few days” added Laposa-Wilde.
There are lots of things B.C. residents can do to help bats; learning to coexist safely with bats is top of the list or follow proper guidelines to exclude bats from buildings.
Laposa-Wilde said contracting rabies from bats is extremely rare, but warned to never touch a bat. She added less than one per cent of bats carry rabies and it is only transferred by bite or scratch.
As part of Bat Week, residents can download Bat Week activities, and teachers can also plan activities for students from the BC Bat Edukit Activity Guide.