‘Extremely rare’ bat found in Lower Mainland on person’s balcony

An unusual bat that was rescued from a Chilliwack resident’s balcony is actually “extremely rare,” according to the Wildlife Rescue Association of B.C.

The resident found the bat on her balcony and after it didn't leave when she left it overnight, she called the rescue association who came and picked it up.

“It was at first sight that our enthusiastic wildlife experts realized that the bat is a spotted bat, an extremely rare species. Fortunately, a thorough exam revealed that this bat had no major injuries. She was just dehydrated and underweight,” according to the wildlife association’s Facebook post, Oct. 9.

The bat will be recovering at the rescue centre receiving proper nutrition and hydration therapy before being released.

Spotted bats are not normally seen in that area of B.C. but they’re known to live in the Fraser Canyon north of Lytton and Skagit Valley, past Manning Park.

There are likely only a few hundred of them in Canada, according to the association.

“They only live on cliffs and, according to Dr. Lausen, bat research and conservation biologist, they never come down to roost on human structures,” the rescue centre said.


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Carli Berry

Carli Berry has been telling stories in the Okanagan for the past three years and after finding her footing in the newspaper industry, joined the Infonews team in January 2020. Recipient of the 2019 MA Murray award for feature writing, Carli is passionate about stories that involve housing, business and the environment. Born on Vancouver Island, she is happy to say Okanagan Lake reminds, her slightly, of the ocean. Carli can be reached at (250) 864-7494 or email cberry@infonews.ca.

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