Bats are important components of healthy ecosystems and provide billions of dollars worth of free pest-control services to the North American agriculture industry each year. Watch this video to learn more!
Farmland in Alberta is uniquely important for bat conservation. Many of our bats feed over crops and pastures, and may even target the insects that bother livestock. Old farmyard buildings are often used by bats and these may be critical for supporting the local bat population. Ensuring bat-friendly practices on farms and creating conditions where bats can thrive are important for creating healthy environments across Alberta.
Agriculture affects the most habitat of any industry in Alberta, especially in the Parkland and Grasslands regions. But there are many things that we can do to create functional habitat to help bats and other wildlife.
Suggested External Resources for Farm and Ranch Management
- Caring for the Green Zone: Riparian Areas and Grazing Management (Cows & Fish)
- Riparian Areas: A User’s Guide to Health (Cows & Fish)
- Beaver: Our Watershed Partner (Cows & Fish)
- Beneficial Management Practices for Bats for the Milk River and the South Saskatchewan Watershed in Alberta (MULTISAR)
- Bats Pamphlet (MULTISAR)
- Water for Wildlife: A Handbook for Ranchers and Range Managers (Bat Conservation International)