Peachland bats are much loved by the locals. The 1908 Peachland Historic School, home to the Peachland Visitor Information Centre/Art Gallery also hosts a maternal colony of bats in the attic from May to September. Every evening during these times these nocturnal mammals come out to feed. Trepanier Creek (Harold's Walkway) and Beach Ave are 2 of the corridors Peachland bats follow to feed. So between May and September take a walk along either of these walkways and the bats will ensure you won't run into any pesky mosquitoes. Bats eat over half their body weight in insects every night. Unbelievable but a true fact.
Stop in and check out the “Legends of the Lake, Bat Interpretive Centre” at the Visitor Information Centre. You can also join a scheduled evening of counting bats outside the Visitors Information Centre on Friday evenings during July and August; its fun for the whole family. Or just take a walk along the walkway 20 min after dusk between May and September and see the bats flitting and swooping. Thanks to their exceptional sonar system, flight and hunting skills, bats may come close to humans but fear not, they are merely in pursuit of a nearby tasty flying insect or mosquito. Watch for the upcoming installation of Bat Friendly red lighting, within the flight corridor of the schoolhouse.
Worldwide, foraging bats are vital pollinators. In BC, we also benefit from the natural, non-toxic pest control that their nightly hunts provide. If that's not enought to love these little guys then their poop, called “guano” makes a phenominal, high nitrogen plant fertilizer. Local fire fighters and BEEPs harvest this guano annually from the Historic Schoolhouse attic.
If you would like more information check out www.beepspeachland.com BEEPS is the acronym for: Bat Education & Ecological Protection Society.
Please bring your own pen/pencil. Beach Ave. is very busy with walkers/bikers/runners and strollers year round and packed with swimmers every summer day so please be stealthy and replace cache exactly as you found it. You will need a TOTT to get the log out. Please be gentle .