The North Island BC Community Bat Program is encouraging residents to celebrate Bat Week 2025, an international celebration of bats and their importance to ecosystems and communities. Bat Week runs from October 24 to 31, 2025. Learn more about bats by attending a local bat talk, visiting a local library, checking out the “Bats Out of the Darkness” exhibit at the Courtenay Museum until Dec 3, learn about the Cumberland Bat Project at cumberlandforest.com, or find out more at www.bcbats.ca & download some Bat Week activities. Teachers can also plan activities for students from the BC Bat Edukit Activity Guide.
Or check out one of the many bat talks and educational opportunities coming up!
• Bat Chat with Tim Ennis in Comox Oct 24
• Bats Out of the Darkness Exhibit at the Courtenay Museum (until Dec 3)
• Welcome to the Hibernacula – family bat event at the VI Regional Library Cumberland Oct 30
• Bats in our Midst – lecture at the Courtenay Museum Nov 18 with the Cumberland Forest
“Bats are remarkable creatures that play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and balance” says Heather Thomson, BC Community Bat Program Coordinator for the North Island.
In British Columbia, there are at least 15 species of bats. “Bats contribute to natural pest control by consuming mosquitoes, as well as pests to agriculture and forestry.” notes Thomson. “Bats also cycle nutrients between aquatic environments where they eat and upland environments where they sleep and poop.”
“Culturally, bats are also significant. They are part of rich mythologies and folklore all over the planet and continue to inspire popular culture including characters like Batman, Dracula, and the Count from Sesame Street!”
Despite their importance, bats face serious threats that they are ill-prepared to withstand due to their low reproductive rates. “Most BC species give birth to only one pup per year,” says Thomson. At this time of year, bats are fattening up for their winter hibernation, devouring many insects every night. “As they migrate to their winter habitat, they may roost above your doorway or in unusual open areas. Please allow the bat to stay; it will leave on its own in a few days” says Thomson.
A major threat to bats is White-nose Syndrome, a deadly fungal disease expected to spread to BC, that is currently killing bats in Alberta and Washington. “We are monitoring it in BC by asking the public to report dead bats or winter bat activity. Locally, we are also interested in knowing where bats may be raising their young in the summer (called roosts). If you think you may have a roost on your property, please let us know. ” says Thomson. Please report to www.bcbats.ca, call 1-855-922-2287 ext 25 or email heather@cumberlandforest.com
There are lots of things BC residents can do to help bats. Learning to coexist safely with bats is top of the list or follow proper guidelines to exclude bats from buildings. “Remember to never touch a bat. Rabies is extremely rare and preventable by avoiding direct contact with bats,” says Thomson. Less than 1% of bats carry rabies and it is only transferred by a bite or scratch. Only 26 people have died in the last 100 years from rabies in Canada.
“Together, we can help protect these fascinating creatures and the ecosystems they support,” says Thomson. The BC Community Bat Program is made possible thanks to funding from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BC Conservation Foundation, the BC government, and Environment & Climate Change Canada. Regionally, we have the support of the Comox Valley Community Foundation.
Photo: Volunteers from the annual Bat Count!