Okanagan-based bat biologists and volunteers will be participating in the Annual Bat Count starting on June 1, which involves counting bats at maternity roosts throughout the province. Female bats roost together in summer to raise their young in maternity colonies, with typically one pup per female in June. The males, on the other hand, generally roost alone in various locations such as trees, rock cliffs, boulder fields, or buildings. The counts are conducted at buildings, bat boxes, or bridges where maternity roosts are located, and volunteers play a crucial role in collecting data.
Last year, volunteers conducted 888 bat counts at 274 different maternity roost sites across the province. The data collected from these counts is essential in monitoring the bat populations in British Columbia. The Annual Bat Count, initiated in 2012, is the sole long-term monitoring program dedicated to bat summer roosts in the province. By tracking the populations and observing any declines, biologists can assess the impacts or recovery of bat species. The presence of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations in eastern Canada and the USA, poses a potential threat to the bats in BC as well.
The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome was detected in the Grand Forks region of BC in 2022, although the disease itself has not been confirmed in the province yet. Many of the roost sites that are counted house Little Brown Myotis and Yuma Myotis bats, both of which are vulnerable to white-nose syndrome. Bats in British Columbia play a crucial role as predators of night-flying insects, making them an integral part of the ecosystem. To report a bat colony or volunteer for the bat counts, interested individuals can visit the BC Community Bat Program website or contact them directly via email or phone.
The Annual Bat Count involves sitting outside a bat maternity roost at sunset and counting all the bats that emerge from the roost for an hour. The counts are typically conducted four times at each roost site – twice in June to count only the females, and then twice more starting mid-July when the pups are learning to fly. This method allows for a comprehensive assessment of the bat populations and helps researchers understand the dynamics of the maternity colonies. By participating in the bat counts, volunteers contribute valuable data that aids in the conservation efforts for bat species in British Columbia.
Monitoring programs like the Annual Bat Count are crucial for understanding the status of bat populations and identifying any potential threats they may face. White-nose syndrome, which has caused significant population declines in other regions, represents a looming threat to the bat species in BC. By tracking the populations, researchers can detect any changes in abundance or distribution and implement conservation strategies accordingly. The data collected from the bat counts provides valuable insights into the health of bat populations in the province and helps inform conservation initiatives to protect these valuable nocturnal predators.
Overall, the Annual Bat Count serves as a vital tool for bat conservation efforts in British Columbia. By engaging volunteers and biologists in the monitoring of maternity roosts, researchers can gather essential data to assess the health of bat populations and track any changes over time. As bat populations face potential threats such as white-nose syndrome, ongoing monitoring and research are essential for their conservation. Through collaborative efforts and community involvement, the BC Community Bat Program works towards safeguarding bat species and their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance in the province.
