The Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project is asking community members who have bats roosting on their property to help with bat conservation efforts by joining in the Annual BC Bat Count.
Bat counting is a fun activity suitable for all ages. No special skills are needed and you can relax in your deck chair while counting. Counters simply sit outside known roosts and count bats as they fly out at sunset.
Residents who know of a bat colony occupying a roof, attic, barn, shed, tree or bat house are asked to please contact the Wildlife Project. If desired, biologists can assist with the count and visit your property to assess the bat situation, identify the bat species and provide you with information on safe evictions and bat houses.
With the recent detection of white-nose syndrome near Seattle, this year’s count is more important than ever. This devastating fungal disease has already killed more than six million bats in eastern North America. This summer may be our last year to understand local bat communities before we begin to see widespread bat population declines in B.C.
To learn more, see bcbats.ca and www.facebook.com/coastwildlife or email [email protected] or call 604-989-1007.
– Submitted by Michelle Evelyn
