Township of Langley Certified as a Bat-Friendly Community
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The Township of Langley has been officially certified as a Bat-Friendly Community by the Community Bat Programs of BC, recognizing the Township’s commitment to protecting local bat populations and their habitats.
A Bat-Friendly Community works to incorporate bat habitat into planning processes, reduce direct threats to bats, and promote public education and awareness. The certification highlights the Township’s ongoing efforts to support biodiversity and environmental stewardship across the community.
“Bats are a vital part of our local ecosystem, and this certification reflects the Township's ongoing commitment to protecting our biodiversity,” said Eric Woodward, Mayor, Township of Langley. “By creating bat-friendly spaces in our parks, we're taking meaningful steps to support ecological resilience for generations to come. We're proud to join the growing network of Bat-Friendly Communities across BC.”
The Township is advancing bat conservation through partnerships with local environmental organizations and by installing bat boxes in parks, including Derek Doubleday Arboretum and Old Yale Park. These initiatives align with the Township’s Climate Action and Agricultural Viability strategies, reinforcing a community-wide commitment to habitat protection and ecological resilience.
There are nine species of bats found within the Township of Langley:
- Big Brown Bat
- Californian Myotis
- Eastern Red Bat
- Hoary Bat
- Little Brown Myotis
- Long-legged Myotis
- Silver-haired Bat
- Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
- Yuma Myotis
Bats play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. All bat species in British Columbia are insectivores, feeding on moths, beetles, spiders, mosquitoes, and other insects. As natural pest controllers, bats provide effective, chemical-free insect management that benefits agriculture, parks, and residential areas.
Township residents can support bats by planting native, light-coloured, night-blooming flowers with a strong evening scent to attract the moths and other nocturnal insects that many bat species rely on for food. Residents are also encouraged to avoid pesticides, use motion-sensor lighting to keep outdoor areas dark, retain wildlife stumps as natural roost sites when safe to do so, and contact the Community Bat Programs of BC if bats are found on their property.
Learn more at tol.ca/wildlife.
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