Mad about bats? Okanagan Bat program needs your help

The Bat-friendly Community Program in the North Okanagan is calling on residents of Vernon, Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby and Lumby to help protect the furry creatures.

The program is dedicated to protecting our little winged neighbours as they play a vital role in the Okanagan’s ecosystem and can be of great help to humans.

“They excel at insect control, benefiting us and local agriculture by reducing mosquitoes and other pests,” Megan Olson, North Okanagan Coordinator for the program said in a press release. “Bats also respect personal boundaries: they avoid direct interactions with humans, sleep during the day and become active during the night.”

Bats also have high “site fidelity," Olson explained, meaning they return to the same area every year.

READ MORE: DREAM COME TRUE: Vernon teacher to travel the world as a pigeon judge

This has proven to be beneficial to the landscape as the combination of their nitrogen-rich guano and long life spans means they can transport vital nutrients to nourish local lands for decades.

The organization is now on the lookout for community members, wildlife enthusiasts, students, naturalists and biologists to help it get the word out.

Volunteers will aid the program in protecting, creating and enhancing habitats and promoting learning, awareness and appreciation for bats.

By reaching these goals, the North Okanagan could join Peachland, Richmond and Dawson Creek, among others, in becoming a certified Bat-friendly Community.

“A single drop creates a ripple,” Olson said. “Local action helps protect bats in your community and creates a cascade of positive change for healthy ecosystems and rich biodiversity.”

To get involved, visit the BC Bat-friendly Community Program website here.

You can also contact Megan Olson via email here, or give them a call at 1-855-9BC-BATS (ext. 13).

To contact a reporter for this story, email Georgina Whitehouse or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.