About bats

Bat species in BC

British Columbia has the richest diversity of bats in Canada, fifteen species in all, from tiny mouse-eared Myotis to the striking Spotted Bat. Here’s who they are, where they live, and which ones need our help.

  • 15 species of bats live in BC, the most of any province.
  • Over half are at risk and could be lost without action.
  • All bats are protected by law under the BC Wildlife Act.
A furred, long-winged bat photographed against a dark background.

There are 15 species of bats in British Columbia, 16 if you count the single record of a Big Free-tailed Bat (Nyctinomops macrotis) that washed up in New Westminster in 1938. Not all of them occur in every part of the province, and there are also accidental records of the Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and the Canyon Bat (Parastrellus hesperus) in BC.

Canada is home to 17 bat species, most of which are found in BC. The one exception is the Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus), which lives in the eastern part of the country.

How they sort out

Three broad groups.

All of BC’s bats can be divided into three groups, the long-distance migrants, the many look-alike Myotis, and a handful of stand-out species that are easier to tell apart.

Migratory bats

Three species, the Eastern Red Bat, Hoary Bat, and Silver-haired Bat, migrate south for winter. They’re larger and furrier than other BC bats, with fur even on their tails to keep warm on long flights.

Myotis bats

Eight species belong to the genus Myotis, Greek for “mouse-eared.” They’re generally small and look so alike that they’re hard to tell apart at first glance: Little Brown, Yuma, California, Long-eared, Northern, Fringed, Long-legged, and Small-footed Myotis.

Stand-out bats

The last four belong to different genera and don’t fit the other groups. With distinct looks that make them easier to identify, these are the Spotted Bat, Pallid Bat, Townsend’s Big-eared Bat, and Big Brown Bat.

A closer look

Meet all fifteen.

Every bat known to live in British Columbia, from the endangered Little Brown Myotis to the boldly marked Spotted Bat. Tap any card to open its full field-guide entry, drawn from the Royal BC Museum handbook. Photos are placeholders, to be replaced.

Townsend's Big-eared Batthreatened
Townsend's Big-eared Bat
Corynorhinus townsendii
Forearm40–49 mm
RoostCaves, mines
RangeSouthern BC
Call~25 kHz
View details
Little Brown Myotisendangered
Little Brown Myotis
Myotis lucifugus
Forearm33–40 mm
RoostBuildings, trees
RangeThroughout BC
Call40 kHz
View details
Spotted Batthreatened
Spotted Bat
Euderma maculatum
Forearm37–53 mm
RoostCliff crevices
RangeS. Interior
Call9–16 kHz
View details
Northern Myotisendangered
Northern Myotis
Myotis septentrionalis
Forearm34–38 mm
RoostTrees, under bark
RangeNorthern BC
Call40 kHz
View details
Hoary Batstable
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
Forearm50–57 mm
RoostTree foliage
RangeMost of BC
Call~20 kHz
View details
Fringed Myotisthreatened
Fringed Myotis
Myotis thysanodes
Forearm38–45 mm
RoostRock, buildings
RangeS. Interior
Call20–25 kHz
View details
Silver-haired Batstable
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Forearm38–45 mm
RoostUnder tree bark
RangeForested BC
Call25–30 kHz
View details
California Myotisstable
California Myotis
Myotis californicus
Forearm30–36 mm
RoostTree cavities, bark
RangeSouthern BC
Call45–50 kHz
View details
Big Brown Batstable
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Forearm41–52 mm
RoostBuildings, attics
RangeThroughout BC
Call25–30 kHz
View details
Yuma Myotisstable
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
Forearm31–38 mm
RoostBuildings near water
RangeSouthern BC
Call45–50 kHz
View details
Long-eared Myotisstable
Long-eared Myotis
Myotis evotis
Forearm34–41 mm
RoostTree bark, stumps
RangeAcross BC
Call30–35 kHz
View details
Long-legged Myotisstable
Long-legged Myotis
Myotis volans
Forearm34–44 mm
RoostBuildings, snags
RangeMost of BC
Call40 kHz
View details
Western Small-footed Myotisthreatened
Western Small-footed Myotis
Myotis ciliolabrum
Forearm29–35 mm
RoostCliffs, rock crevices
RangeS. Interior
Call40 kHz
View details
Pallid Batthreatened
Pallid Bat
Antrozous pallidus
Forearm50–58 mm
RoostRock crevices, cliffs
RangeS. Okanagan
Call~25 kHz
View details
Eastern Red Batstable
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
Forearm36–43 mm
RoostTree foliage
RangeRare migrant
Call~35 kHz
View details

Tap the on a photo for its credit. Species information from Nagorsen & Brigham, Bats of British Columbia (Royal BC Museum).

Where they live

What lives in my region?

British Columbia’s diverse landscapes make it one of the most biodiverse provinces in Canada. Bats range as far north as the Yukon border and west along the coast and islands.

The southern interior, including the Thompson, Okanagan, and Cariboo regions, supports the highest diversity of bat species. To understand why, learn more about bat habitat and where bats roost on our Bat basics page.

Many roosting locations in BC have not yet been discovered, and our picture of where each species lives keeps evolving as new roosts are reported. If you find summer roosts or overwintering bats, please consider sharing your sightings with us, it helps us learn about their distribution.

Conservation status

Which bats are at risk?

All animals in BC, including bats, are protected from harm, illegal hunting, trafficking, keeping, and killing under the BC Wildlife Act. Even so, over half of BC’s 15 bat species are at risk and could be lost without action.

Bats are ranked on two kinds of lists: provincial (BC) and federal (Canada). Provincially, one bat carries the greatest risk of being lost, eight are of special concern, five are at least risk, and one is not listed.

Provincial status, BC

Red-listed

Greatest risk of being lost.

  • Pallid Bat

Blue-listed

Special concern.

  • Little Brown Myotis
  • Northern Myotis
  • Hoary Bat
  • Spotted Bat
  • Yuma Myotis
  • Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
  • Small-footed Myotis
  • Fringed Myotis

Yellow-listed

Least risk.

  • Silver-haired Bat
  • California Myotis
  • Long-eared Myotis
  • Long-legged Myotis
  • Big Brown Bat

Not listed

No provincial listing.

  • Eastern Red Bat
Federal status, Canada

Two species are endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act, facing imminent extirpation or extinction; one is threatened, and one is of special concern. The Hoary, Silver-haired, and Eastern Red bats are listed as endangered by COSEWIC and are under review to be added to SARA.

Endangered

Facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

  • Little Brown Myotis 1
  • Northern Myotis 1
  • Hoary Bat 2
  • Silver-haired Bat 2
  • Eastern Red Bat 2

Threatened

Likely to become endangered.

  • Pallid Bat 1

Special concern

May become threatened.

  • Spotted Bat 1

Not listed

No federal listing.

  • California Myotis
  • Long-eared Myotis
  • Long-legged Myotis
  • Big Brown Bat
  • Yuma Myotis
  • Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
  • Small-footed Myotis
  • Fringed Myotis (data deficient)

1 Listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).   2 Listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Learn more

Featured resources about bats.

Go deeper on BC’s bats, their biology, diversity, and how to protect them.

PDF · 2024

Bats 101: All About Bats

Everything you need to know about the bats of British Columbia, their biology, diversity, habitat use, and how to protect them. 40 pages.

Download →
Book

Bats of British Columbia, 2nd ed.

The definitive guide by Lausen et al. Ask your library whether they carry a hard copy.

View the book →
Online atlas

E-Fauna: Bats of BC

The Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia, species accounts and distribution maps.

Explore the atlas →
Downloads

Guides & documents.

Everything linked to this page — free to open and share.

Browse the full library →

Help us track BC’s bats

Seen a bat? Tell us.

Every report helps us map where BC’s 15 species live and how they’re doing, especially the more than half that are at risk. Got a photo? Even better.

Report a sighting → Contact us