Rainfall: July 24, 2023

As of 6 PM July 24, 2023, I measured .59" or almost 15 MM of rainfall.

Keith Rush 

News Release: Bat Pups Learning to Fly

July 24, 2023

Are you noticing more bats around your house or property? You are not alone! Mid-summer is the time when landowners typically notice more bat activity, may have bats flying into their house, and occasionally find a bat on the ground or roosting in unusual locations. 

These surprise visitors are often the young pups. “In July and August, pups are learning to fly, and their early efforts may land them in locations where they are more likely to come in contact with humans“, says Rob Welsh, Thetis Island coordinator with the Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program. As noticed in the last two years, heat and smoke may also cause bats to use unusual roost sites. 

If you find a bat, alive or dead, remember to never touch it with your bare hands. Bats in BC are known to carry rabies at a low level; this is why it is important to avoid any contact. If you must move a bat, use a trowel or similar tool, and always wear leather gloves to protect yourself from direct contact. Talk to your children to make sure they understand to never touch, play or try to rescue injured or sick-looking bats.   If you suspect a bite or scratch from a bat, immediately wash the area with soap and water for 15 minutes. Also contact your public health or your doctor as soon as possible, or go to the emergency department. For more information on rabies please refer to the BCCDC website http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/rabies.

“Bats are important to our ecology and economy. They are the main consumers of night flying insects.  Unfortunately, bats are in trouble, and half of the bat species in BC are listed as ‘at risk’,” says Welsh.

Bats are often found in close association with humans, as some species (such as the Little Brown Myotis) have adapted to live in human structures, and colonies may be found under roofs or siding, or in attics, barns, or other buildings. Female bats gather in maternity colonies to have a single pup in early summer, where they will remain until the pups are ready to fly. 

“Having bats is viewed as a benefit by many landowners, who appreciate the insect control. Others may prefer to exclude the bats,” says Welsh.  Under the BC Wildlife Act it is illegal to exterminate or directly harm bats, and exclusion should only be done in the fall and winter after it is determined that the bats are no longer in the building. If you have bats on your property, the BC Community Bat Project can offer advice and support. 

You can keep bats out of your living space by keeping doors and windows closed and ensuring window screens do not have any holes. If you find a live bat in a room of your home, open the window and close interior doors until the bat leaves, or follow the steps here: https://batworld.org/what-to-do-if-youve-found-a-bat/.  

“Cat predation is a very common cause of death of bats in BC, which is bad for bat populations and potentially exposes the cats, and their owners, to rabies,” says Welsh. Keep cats indoors, particularly overnight when the bats are most active, and ensure all cats are vaccinated for rabies.

For information on safely moving a bat if necessary and to report bat sightings, landowners can visit the Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program’s website (www.bcbats.ca), email:  rmwelsh@telus.net, or call 250-246-1547 for Rob.  The BC Community Bat Program is supported by the BC Conservation Foundation, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, the Habitat Stewardship Program, the Government of BC, and Thetis Island Nature Conservancy. 

Photo1: Baby bats, called pups, are born hairless, but soon grow fur, begin to fly, and may end up in surprising places. Always wear thick gloves if you must move a grounded bat, and contact the BC Community Bat Program for guidance. Photo by Okanagan Community Bat Program

Photo2: Bats roosting in exposed locations, such as this bat on a screen door, can be left alone and will usually move on at dusk or after a few days.  Photo by V.Troyen

ThINC Nature House - Week 4 Events: July 26 - 30

This week's activities include:

Wed, July 26

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Harvest Hours at The PAG (all ages)

Thurs, July 27

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Wild Creatives: Rock Paintin' at the Nature House (all ages)

8:00 pm - 9:30 pm ThINC Tank: Bats! Bat Count with Rob Welsh at the Nature House (youth, adults)

Fri, July 28

10:00 am start Young Naturalists: Wild Bee Identification Day with bee expert Jane Lakes at the PAG (all ages)

1:00 pm start Expert Excursions: Sustainable Systems with Doug Fenton at 195 Pilkey Point Road (youth, adults)

Sat, July 29

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Seaquarium Drop-in at the Nature House (all ages)

Sun, July 30

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Harvest Hours at The PAG (all ages)

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Beach Walk & Snorkel with Andy Lamb at the Portal (all ages)

For more details on these events, check out our blog: www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org/single-post/nature-house-week-4-events-july-26-30

Got questions? Get in touch with our Nature House coordinator, Eden at eden@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

Remembering Gerry Smith

We are putting together a story to remember Gerry Smith, and his and Vivian's time here on Thetis. We'll be grateful for any islander contributions to this. He had an adventurer's life and shared his enthusiasm widely and generously. Please send anything you'd like to add to quarterly@thetisisland.net .

Thanks!

Looking for Rubber Pond-liner or Something Similar!

Hello, I am looking for ~350 sq feet of pond liner (doesn't have to be in perfect condition). If you have excess and would be willing to part with it (free or at cost), please let me know at cfesnoux@gmail.com .

Thanks!

Free Chair

Free comfy faux leather chair - in good condition

Call or text 604-612-9562 for more info 

Looking for Extra Zucchinis

I recently discovered how to make zucchini chips. Now I need as many zucchini as possible to support this very delicious habit...and dry enough to last through the winter. Does anyone have any extra they could part with. Can pay in some zucchini chips...

Thank you, Elite but not Athenia (not her preference:)

elitewillowbrook@gmail.com

250-533-9347

Need Help with MAC

I need help with MAC. Cash or trade for Art.

solarbud@telus.net   

Local Art Show: Art Intake Today, Sunday 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Local Art Show at Forbes Hall – Summer 2023

The TICA Art Committee is looking for art specific to Thetis Island for a display at Forbes Hall Community Centre. Do you own a painting of your cabin, foreshore, or perhaps a sketch of your dinghy on its pin, that you’d like to have included?

This show will be made up of loaned paintings or drawings of Thetis Island beaches, trails, forests, cabins, gardens, or boats at anchor. The loan of this artwork will be for the rest of the summer.

This display will be up in time for the Book and Bake Sale AND evening concert on Saturday August 5th. The art will be shown throughout the hall and will complement Deborah Martin’s paintings currently on display.

Deborah’s paintings are for sale with the proceeds benefitting TICA’s Back into the Black Debt Reduction Program.

Questions: contact Ellen Rush at ellenrush@gmail.com or Carol Sowerby at  Sowerby@seaside.net

Jollity Weekly Order Reminders & Updates

The weekly order form has been updated with this week's fresh list, which keeps growing! Reminder to place your orders for local dairy or baking by Monday night. We'll be restocking dumplings, sausages, ice cream and kombucha this week.

https://www.jollityfarm.ca/order-form

If you are requesting that we pick up your grocery order at Community Farm Shop, Superstore or Country Grocer, we must receive this request and your order confirmation by email before 5pm on Wed. evening. We don't check phone or text for these order requests.

We are hoping there will be more local unsprayed cherries from our friends at Silver Rill this week.... stay tuned.

With all this hot weather it sounds like our big blueberry order will be ready earlier this year. We'll be coordinating a pick up date soon and will send out an email to organize collection day.

Thank you to everyone who subscribes to our newsletter. It's our goal to send out weekly but we don't always make it. The farmers are away camping (woohoo), so we'll be skipping out this week but will return with more farm news and recipes the following week. You can subscribe here: https://jollityfarm.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=afd1cf3b53f92dba15a26c365&id=238d9a16b3

With thanks,

Jollity Farm

Eight-foot Inflatable Dinghy

Would the fellow who called about picking up the "needs work" inflatable please call again, I misplaced your number. 

The boat is ready to pick up.

Peggy at 250-891-6345

Wanted: Canoe Trailer

Looking for a canoe trailer or an old boat trailer to put our canoe on so we can tow it with our car instead of using the roof rack. It would just be for on-island use, so it doesn’t have to be necessarily “highway-worthy.” Also, happy to improve/modify something that’s not quite right or adequate in its present condition. So, if anyone has an old boat trailer sitting around that they’re not using and willing to sell, please call, text, or email - Thanks!

Julian

647-965-3901

julianjackman@gmail.com