Kootenay Community Bat Project

10/14/2026

Bats with special talents https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Pa1XaTpNf/

We can all agree that bats are amazing. But did you know some bats have hidden talents (beyond being keystone species and being adorable)?

Spix’s disc-winged bats are (literally) armed with small discs on their wrists and ankles, allowing them to hold in place by a clever combination of suction and wet adhesion.

Read more about the incredible secret talents of bats in our latest blog post- link in comments.

🦇 Spix's disc-winged bat
📸 Christian Ziegler/ Minden Pictures

10/11/2026

All ears for Thanksgiving! 🦇🍂

“Myotis” means “mouse-eared,” and these little listeners certainly live up to the name. We have EIGHT myotis bats in western Canada (5 in Alberta - BC has all eight)! They may have "mouse" ears but they are not rodents! Bats are Chiroptera!

This Thanksgiving weekend, we’re thankful for bats and everyone helping to protect them. Wishing you a cozy Sunday, from our colony to yours!

10/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HGJPdMUQu/

🍂 Fall reminder: Leave the leaves! 🍂

As the leaves start to fall, resist the urge to rake every corner of your yard. Leaving some leaf litter behind is one of the easiest ways to support wildlife and build healthier soil.

🦇 Bats need leaves, too! Some bat species, including eastern red bats, can overwinter in or beneath leaf litter. Leaving leaves in natural areas can provide important shelter for these bats during the colder months.

🐛 Wildlife: Fallen leaves provide food, shelter, and overwintering habitat for insects and other invertebrates, as well as butterflies, moths, beetles, salamanders, frogs, and more.

🌱 Healthy soil: As leaves break down, they return nutrients and organic matter to the soil, supporting healthy plants and beneficial microorganisms.

You don't have to leave every leaf exactly where it falls. Try leaving natural areas unraked and keeping leaves under trees and shrubs.

A little "mess" can go a long way for wildlife. 💚🍂

09/30/2026

Make Halloween bat-friendly! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Sg8Rih3C/

🕸️🚫 Fake cobwebs may look spooky, but they can be deadly for wildlife.
Bats, owls, songbirds, and even chipmunks can become fatally tangled.

This rare Mexican long-tongued bat was found stuck on a porch in San Diego during migration. Luckily, he was rescued and released safely—but many aren’t as fortunate. 💔

This Spooky season, keep decorations safe for wildlife. Skip the fake webs and choose bat-friendly décor instead! 🦇✨



📸 Dick Wilkins

09/24/2026

There is no such thing as too many bats https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DDNyj6F7j/

There is no such thing as too many bats.

🦇 Schreiber's long-fingered bat
📷 Ingo Arndt/Foto Natura/Minden Pictures

09/21/2026

🦇❤️ Fall is here, and the bats are busy!

Mating season is underway, and our bats are also putting on some extra fat to get ready for winter. 🥰🍂

A little bat love before they head off for hibernation! 🦇❤️

09/21/2026

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

Go Fund Me Canada - BC Bats Need Your Help.

The BC Community Bat Program - also known as BC BATS (www.bcbats.ca) - is a grant funded program which started in 2014 that raises awareness of bats and helps conserve bat populations. They run the only long-term bat population monitoring program in BC. The BC Conservation Foundation administers the grants and funds for this program.

Our four main activities are:
1. BC Annual Bat Counts
2. Bat-friendly Communities
3. White-nose syndrome (WNS) Surveillance
4. Toll Free Bat Call Line and Public Relations

BC BATS consists of 19 regions across BC, run by dedicated partners and bat enthusiasts. This year, BC BATS needs your help to support their important work. The results of our usual grants have not been announced yet, resulting in a lack of funding during our critical BC Annual Bat Count season. This is a crucial time for bat conservation as the fungus that causes WNS was detected in Delta only 12 km from two large maternity roosts. This fungus, affecting bats only, can wipe out bat populations in just a few years.

Bats are very important wildlife and play key roles in our ecosystems. Despite their importance, bats are often overlooked, misunderstood and feared. Bats face numerous threats, including intentional killing every year as they are thought of as pests. BC bat populations are threatened, with 9 of the 15 bat species listed in BC.

Work conducted by BC BATS is more important now and in the next few years as the fungus begins to spread across the province. All funds donated will support important bat work such as organizing Annual Bat Counts, responding to calls about bats, providing bat outreach, working with municipalities, and training Bat Ambassadors. With your support we can help protect bats across BC and strive to save these important animals before it is too late. All donations are tax deductible.

We would love your support. Please share far and wide!
https://gofund.me/9892b3492

06/04/2026

Here's another species of bat native to the Kootenays, Townsend's Big-Earred Bat!
These guys love to roost in caves or buildings, but unlike other species of bats, they prefer to be out in the open rather than tucked away in crevices!

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Sources:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/pesticides-and-pest-management/managing-pests/bats/kcbp_bats.pdf
https://www.nps.gov/chis/learn/nature/townsends-bats.htm

Map: Cephus
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corynorhinus_townsendii_map.svg