When most people think of bats, they think of flying mammals that produce echolocation. However, many are unaware that individual bats can live for decades, and globally, there are about 1,400 bat species, making up over 12 per cent of terrestrial mammal biodiversity.
"There are so many different types of bats, and they all feed on different types of insects and in different areas and in different ways and they roost in different ways," said Dr. Cori Lausen, director of bat conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada. "Almost all of our species here in B.C. are facing some sort of major threat, and the biggest threats are things like the removal of old-growth forest and mature trees."
Lausen, who researches bat populations on Vancouver Island and in the Kootenays, is presenting a talk about bats at the Beaver Lodge Lands on May 5. The talk is part of Greenways Land Trust's first Campbell River Bioblitz, running from May 5 to May 11.
The Bioblitz is a way to encourage the community to support regional biodiversity by documenting and photographing various species, contributing valuable data to conservation efforts through the iNaturalist app.
"There's a lot of biodiversity in your backyard," said Jeff Groat, outreach and food security coordinator with Greenways. "You don't have to drive an hour out into nature to find all kinds of different life and organisms. You can look right in your backyard and see all kinds of things."
Groat said the Bioblitz is geared towards regular people who aren't scientists and don't have scientific training but are curious about nature.
Participants in the Bioblitz can use the iNaturalist app on smartphones to photograph and document various species. This opportunity is open to both experts and newcomers, offering a fresh perspective on nature, said Groat, who organized the event.
During the weeklong Bioblitz, guest speakers will include iNaturalist expert Pete Lypkie, who will teach how to use the iNaturalist App, and Gillian Sadlier-Brown from the Hakai Institute, who will explain the scientific contributions of bioblitzes, among others. Additionally, Greenways has planned a kayak field trip in the Campbell River estuary on May 10 to increase species counts for the event.
READ ALSO: Explore Campbell River's biodiversity during a week-long Bioblitz
Participants should bring their smartphones or cameras to capture their findings. Volunteers and experts will be on hand to assist with species identification and data submission. The goal is to foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for the environment, inspiring participants to become stewards of their local ecosystems.
The Campbell River Bioblitz 2025 sign-up sheet is available online.
