Little Brown Bat. Photo by: Jason Corbett, Bat Conservation Intl.

Bats

All Vancouver bats are insectivores, meaning they eat only bugs, and help control mosquitoes and agricultural pests. The Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) can consume 600 insects in an hour.

Bats are important indicators of the health of our urban ecosystems. Although they face many stressors, some bats have adapted to urban living and enjoy many of the same kinds of spaces that we do, including buildings and parks.

We work with experts from the BC Community Bat program , local non-profits such as the Stanley Park Ecology Society , and external researchers to:

Monitor bats in the city
Manage bat population
Conserve bat habitats
Understand how we can become a bat-friendly city

Find out how you can help

Conservation
The Metro Vancouver region is home to at least 10 species of bats. Half of the bat species in BC are considered species at risk.

Stressors
- Habitat loss
- Attacks by domestic cats
- Wind farms
- The emerging threat of White-Nose Syndrome
Through research, we are beginning to learn more about how bats use urban spaces and respond to urbanization. Recent research from UBC has helped to shed light on what bats exist, and where, within Vancouver.

Strategies for supporting urban bat populations
- Protecting their existing roosts, including in civic buildings and mature trees
- Educating property owners and developers about coexistence with bats in and around buildings
- Improving the amount and quality of forest habitat
- Enhancing edge habitats around forest patches through the use of meadows and other ecological horticulture practices
- Improving and restoring freshwater bodies so that bats can drink water and eat insects
- Reducing light and noise in areas that have habitat features that bats like (for example freshwater and diverse vegetation)
White-nose syndrome

The invasive fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats has been found in British Columbia.

Threat of extinction

White-nose syndrome is a big reason why some North American bat species are disappearing, including 3 species in Canada that are now at risk of extinction.

The white fungus grows on hibernating bats’ faces, and the discomfort awakens them from their hibernation, causing exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, and eventually death.

Transmission risks and effects

Although the fungus does not affect humans, we can spread it when we move vehicles, clothing, gear, and bats.

Research and monitoring efforts

The BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is working with multiple partners to implement enhanced surveillance for the spread of the disease.

Bat researchers in the lower mainland from the University of British Columbia, the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada, Stanley Park Ecology Society, Athene Ecological, and others are humanely catching and releasing bats to test them for the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome.

Potential treatment

At some sites in the province, tests are underway on an experimental probiotic treatment to combat the fungus that causes this deadly disease.
Bats and human health
In British Columbia, less than 0.5% of bats have rabies. Because bats in our province are insectivores, the risk of being bitten by one is extremely low for people and pets.

Nonetheless, rabies is a serious illness. To reduce the risk of contracting it or other diseases, consider these precautions:
- Never handle living or dead bats with your bare hands.
- Contact your doctor right away if you come into contact with a bat.
- Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet comes into contact with a bat.
- If you have to clean up bat droppings (guano), wear a mask and spritz the area with water to avoid inhaling dust from the area.
- Keep pets indoors or supervise their outdoor access using a harness or enclosure.
  - Most bat mortality calls reported to the BC Community Bat Program are a result of attacks by house cats, which can expose a household to rabies.
Bats in buildings
Protecting bats in parks

Bats love to roost in older buildings that have plenty of plants and water nearby. This makes our park fieldhouses great habitat for bats — but these aging buildings will require ongoing renovations to stay usable for the public.

Recently, we have been working with an external consultant to:
- Identify bat roosts and potential habitat
- Plan for roost protection in future fieldhouse repairs work
- Support local bat populations through park design and habitat features such as bat condos
Living with bats

If you find a bat roost in your house, shed or property, don’t panic. It’s possible to safely cohabitate with bats.

Got bats? A BC guide for managing bats in buildings (9 MB)
How you can help
Report

Contact BC Bats (1-855-922-2287) and the Provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (need link) with any information on:
- The location of winter bat roosting sites
- Unusual behaviour, such as flying during the day
- Observations of dead bats
These reports help the Province and partners track the spread of white-nose syndrome.

Coexist

If you find a bat roost in your home, shed, workplace or other building, know that it is possible to safely coexist. Learn how you can coexist with bats

Volunteer

You can get involved in bat conservation and research. Get involved with BC Community Bats

Bats

Conservation

White-nose syndrome

Bats and human health

Bats in buildings

How you can help

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies