News Release: Bats on the Move
Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 9:36PM For Immediate Release
July 30, 2021
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 usually 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 Mandy Kellner, biologist and coordinator with the Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program. The recent heat and smoke may also be causing bats to use unusual roost sites.
If you find a bat, alive or dead, never touch it with your bare hands. Bats in BC have very low levels of rabies infection, but any risk of transmission should not be treated lightly. Contact a doctor or veterinarian if a person or pet could have come into direct contact (bitten, scratched etc.) with a bat.
For information on safely moving a bat if necessary and to report bat sightings, landowners can contact Rob Welsh, the Thetis Island Community Bat Program Coordinator at rmwelsh@telus.net or 250-246-1547 or visit the Got Bats? BC Community Bat Program’s website (www.bcbats.ca). The Program is currently seeking reports of mortalities or changes in bat behaviour that may be due to the hot, dry summer.
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. Some species of bats have adapted to live in human structures, and colonies may be found under roofs or siding, or in attics, barns, or other buildings. Having bats is viewed as a benefit by many landowners, who appreciate the insect control. Others may prefer to exclude the bats. Under the BC Wildlife Act it is illegal to exterminate or 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. Again, the Thetis Island Community Bat Program can offer advice and support.
To find out more, visit www.bcbats.ca and download the “Managing Bats in Buildings” booklet, or contact your local Community Bat Program at 250-246-1547 or rmwelsh@telus.net. The BC Community Bat Program is supported by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, the Government of BC, and many regional funders including the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy.
Photo captions:
Photo1: An adult Long-eared Myotis rests on a building. Photo: P Millar/ BC Community Bat Program.
Photo2: 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 need to move a grounded bat. Photo: Okanagan Bat Project
Photo3: Bats roosting in exposed locations, such as this bat on a sun umbrella, can be left alone and will move on at dusk. Photo: BC Community Bat Program.
