Editor:
It has been drawn to my attention that there is an active and thriving bat colony in the old Burrvilla in Deas Island Regional Park. The bats inhabit the attic of this house on a seasonal basis, usually from March to October.
With close to 3,000 bats estimated in residence, this is the largest known bat colony in the Lower Mainland. Two species reside there, one of which is designated an endangered species under the federal Species at Risk Act. The provisions of this act can be applicable to any property, whether federally owned or not.
As has been pointed out by Tom Bearss, president of the Delta Naturalists Society, bats in their nightly forages consume huge numbers of insects, including mosquitoes. A lactating female can eat up to 1,000 insects per night. The benefits to the community are numerous. In fact, you might say that bats perform a valuable public service.
Metro Vancouver staff clean the attic of guano (bat droppings) when the bats are not in residence. These staff are conscientious with regard to the condition of Burrvilla and state categorically that the droppings are not harming the house.
The South Coast Bat Society is monitoring the health of these bats. You may have heard about the white nose syndrome which is afflicting bats in other parts of Canada and has also been reported in Washington state. There is great concern by biologists of the impacts of this disease on local bat populations. Dead bats equal more living insects which equal more detrimental impacts to communities.
You may be interested to know that Peachland has almost 2,000 Yuma bats living in the attic of the Peachland Historic Primary School building. In fact, Peachland has a Legends of the Lake Interpretive Centre in the Peachland Visitor Centre showing how humans and bats can successfully co-habit.
Metro Vancouver, to a lesser extent, celebrates the Burrvilla bat population with its annual Starry Nights display which takes place in July. On this night, there is great excitement as children and adults alike surround the house at dusk to watch the bats fly out on their nightly forage.
In view of the importance of these bats to the local ecology, BC Nature strongly recommends that they be left to continue their peaceful existence in Burrvilla. It is very likely that these bats could not be successfully relocated. Further, their access to the attic of Burrvilla should not be constricted.
Alan E. Burger, PhD
President
BC Nature
