The Kootenay Community Bat Project was established in 2004 to raise awareness about bats in southeastern BC and work with local residents who have bats in buildings.


“I never would have thought I'd ever be involved in a conservation program like this, but it's the right thing to do and I've got a whole new appreciation for these bats and how important they are.”

Bob, Thrums

KOOTENAY COMMUNITY BAT PROJECT

There are at least 11 species of bats in the Kootenays including vulnerable and threatened species like the Townsend’s big-eared bat, fringed bat, northern myotis and little brown myotis. The Kootenay Community Bat Project provided the first recorded inventory of bats in the Slocan Valley and the first community-based bat inventory and conservation project in BC. It has inspired the Okanagan Community Bat Project (2007) and the South Coast Bat Action Team. To date, the project has conducted almost 400 site visits and identified over 280 roost sites for 8 species of bats.

The success of identifying roost sites for species at risk and the enthusiasm of residents to report their bats, conserve their roost sites or consider sensitive methods for removing bats from their homes continues to drive the success of this project.

Please contact us if you have bats in your buildings, would like to volunteer your time to build or monitor bat-houses, or are interested in booking an educational program.
We are extremely grateful to the Columbia Basin Trust for providing funding for this project.

1. To promote the conservation of bat species in the Kootenays (particularly species at risk) local through education and awareness.

2. To identify the species of bats found in the Kootenays and their critical roosting habitat through a community-based inventory project.

3. To conserve and enhance bat critical habitat, particularly for vulnerable and threatened species.