BC Annual Bat Count Seeks Bat Roosts & Volunteers

The BC Community Bat Program is asking homeowners and businesses to report bat roosts on their property.

Identifying bat roosts help without a citizen-science monitoring program, the BC Annual Bat Count, which begins next week on June 1^st. The count data helps biologists understand bat distribution and monitor for impacts of the devastating bat disease called white-nose syndrome.

One of our more familiar species in buildings and bat boxes is the Little Brown Myotis. Like all BC bats, the Little Brown Myotis is an essential part of our ecology, consuming many insect pests each night. Unfortunately, the Little Brown Myotis is now endangered in Canada due to white-nose syndrome. In fact, bats in BC suffer from many threats, and almost half of our 15 species are ‘at-risk’.

Counts are easy, fun, and safe, not to mention vital for monitoring bat populations. Participants wait outside a known roost site, such as a bat-box, barn, or attic, and count bats as they fly out at twilight. A guano sample can also be sent in to identify the species of bat at the roost site. Find more information on getting involved with counting bats in BC. Register your roost with the program today!

Funded by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, the Habitat Stewardship Program, and with support from the BC Conservation Foundation and the Province of BC, the BC Community Bat Program provides information for people dealing with bat issues on their property or who have questions about how to attract bats. To find out more about bat counts or white-nose syndrome, to report a dead bat, or to get advice on managing bats in buildings, visit bcbats.ca or call 1-855-9BC-BATS.

Photos and credits:

There are four species of bats that are commonly found in buildings in BC.
Photo: Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project.

Map of bat count sites across BC:
Graphic: BC Community Bat Program.

Bat boxes installed on a local home:
Photo: Nicki Brompton