Background

Home to 14 bat species, the Okanagan boasts the highest bat

diversity in Canada! This area provides bats with a long summer to forage, water bodies for prey habitat, diverse roosting habitat, and a north to south migration corridor.

Unfortunately, these remarkable mammals are facing serious threats - including habitat loss, cat predation, white-nose syndrome, and wind farms. As such, half of the province's bat species are considered at risk.

Our Bat Garden was created to support local bat populations. While insects, like moths and beetles, are already found in the area, the native plants in our garden help by attracting more nocturnal insects and increasing the variety of prey available. Many of the flowers bloom at night or give off scents that draw in moths, providing bats with a richer, more reliable food source. As well, the surrounding vegetation, such as pine, spruce, and snowberry, provide prey species with habitat.

By planting thoughtfully, we're improving local habitat and helping bats thrive right here in our community!

Introducing the BATS of the OKANAGAN!

SPOTTED BAT

Euderma maculatum

Did you know...

humans can hear this bat's echolocation calls!

PALLID BAT

Antrozous pallidus

Did you know...

the pallid bat uses its excellent hearing to detect insects rustling on the ground before swooping down to catch them!

TOWNSEND'S

BIG-EARED BAT

Corynorhinus townsendii

Did you know...

they can hover in flight to grab insects off vegetation!

HOARY BAT

Lasiurus cinereus

Did you know...

with a wingspan of 40 cm, this is the largest bat in BC!

EASTERN RED BAT

Lasiurus borealis

Did you know...

these bats are solitary, preferring to roost alone in trees as opposed to living in colonies!

SILVER-HAIRED BAT

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Did you know...

these bats have been found roosting under tree bark and in tree crevices and hollows, such as old woodpecker holes!

BIG BROWN BAT

Eptesicus fuscus

Did you know...

the strong jaws of this bat allow it to chew insects with hard shells, such as beetles!

YUMA MYOTIS

Myotis yumanensis

Did you know...

Yuma and Little Brown bats are very similar in appearance and they often roost together in colonies!

CALIFORNIAN MYOTIS

Myotis californicus

Did you know...

a bat with eclectic tastes in accommodation, it can be found everywhere from sea coasts and woodlands to desert scrub and buildings!

WESTERN SMALL-FOOTED MYOTIS

Myotis ciliolabrum

Did you know...

with a wingspan of 22 cm, this is the smallest bat in BC!

FRINGED MYOTIS

Myotis thysanodes

Did you know...

this bat gets its name from the fringe of hair on its tail membrane!

LONG-LEGGED MYOTIS

Myotis volans

Did you know...

similar to other bat species, the long-legged bat can live for over 20 years in the wild!

LITTLE BROWN BAT

Myotis lucifugus

Did you know...

one Little Brown Bat can eat 600 mosquitos in one hour! Imagine what an entire colony can do!

LONG-EARED MYOTIS

Myotis evotis

Did you know...

its quiet calls are hard for most moths to detect, allowing it to sneak up on its prey!

Images obtained from iNaturalist

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