A bat nesting on roll-up blinds. A new study by the BC Bat Program is asking the public to report sightings of bats using exterior roll-up blinds, shades, or awnings.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ BC Bat Program
January 25, 2024 - 7:30 AM
The BC Community Bat Program is warning residents in the Okanagan and Similkameen region to be careful not to squish any bats that may be hiding in roll-up blinds and power awnings.
The program is seeking assistance from the public to assess how common this blind dilemma is.
“(Over) the last few years, we’ve been getting reports in southern BC of bats being attracted to the shutter housing or box into which the blinds or awnings roll into,” Paula Rodriguez de la Vega, Okanagan coordinator for the Program, said in a press release. “Bats are accidentally and unintentionally getting squished or injured when the blinds are rolled up and then they fall out dead when the blinds get rolled down”.
Bats play an important role in the Okanagan’s ecosystem and are natural and adept pest controllers. However, 9 out of the 15 species of bats in BC are at risk of disappearing.
“We only have insect-eating bats in BC. They control nocturnal insect populations and help cycle nutrients from wetlands to forests,” Rodriguez de la Vega said.
Awnings and shade boxes are appealing to bats as they are drawn to small, secure spaces in human-made structures. To prevent more injuries and deaths, entry gaps into the awning box should be sealed to prevent bats from entering.
If it is determined that these deaths and injuries are a frequent occurrence, the program will talk to manufacturers about solutions, Rodriguez de la Vega said.
“The goal is to explore potential design changes, ensuring that awnings and blinds no longer pose a threat to these important animals, turning them into unintentional hazards.”
Anyone who has had a bat roosting in their summer roll-up blinds is asked to contact the BC Bat Program.
You can access the BC Bat Program website here or email here or call at 1-855-922-2287.
To report a dead bat this winter follow the link here.
A bat was injured by awning. Photo taken by Troy Corbin.
Image Credit: SUMBITTED/ BC Bat Program
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