While the warm weather has held, I’ve had the opportunity to be out and about, learning more about some of our partners’ conservation work underway, and having the chance to meet and chat with community members about the Conservation Fund.

It’s inspiring how much conservation work is going on in our region, and what our partners are able to accomplish. Seeing this work firsthand is so important to bring to life the efforts being made to protect and restore sensitive natural areas, recover our endangered wildlife, and actively engage the community in learning and doing. Rewarding work, and even more important in view of our discussions with residents about what they love and value about the South Okanagan. A healthy environment is deeply and intricately tied to the quality of life here.

Clean water, fresh air, natural spaces.
Bryn White, SOSCP Program Manager

Okanagan Community Bat Program Update

So far this year the Okanagan Community Bat Program has responded to 225 public requests for information or assistance on bat management. Since the fungus causing White Nose Syndrome (WNS) was discovered in Washington State earlier this year, the public has responded to requests to report dead bats. Thirty dead bats have been recovered from the Okanagan and sent to provincial animal health labs. So far, WNS has not been detected among BC bats although other non-lethal skin fungi have been found. Halloween marks the time when most bats have left areas of human habitation to return to winter hibernating sites. Late fall and winter is a great time to make house repairs if bats have gotten into unwanted areas and to put up bat boxes to welcome bats next spring. A new guide, “Building Homes for Bats” is available here. Report any winter sightings of bats to www.bcbats.ca.