So what is the big fuss about bats?
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Created: Friday, 04 September 2020 11:52
By Paige Erickson-McGee (HAT Stewardship Coordinator) and Ben van Drimmelen (HAT Bat Volunteer since 2014)

Bats may roost in unusual places this time of year as they leave summer roosts. (C) L Parker
Bats are known for their remarkably high diversity and broad geographic range. Bats make up one-fifth of all mammals on the planet, are known from all continents except Antarctica, and over 1100 species have been identified. Bats pop up in the fossil record around 52 million years ago in the Green River Formation of Wyoming USA, with a giant walking bat roaming New Zealand around 16 million years ago. It is thought that the first bats could not echolocate and instead relied on sight, smell and touch to find food.
Today BC is particularly rich in bats species; 16 of Canada’s 19 occur in BC and 7 of those are found nowhere else in Canada. There are 9 species that occur on Vancouver Island and all are insectivorous.
Learn more about BC Bats here.
Click here for BAT FAQs
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