BATTYS
FOR
BADDIES!
A batty-fabulous and wildly whimsical fundraiser! The EVZ Bats are getting a new Nocturnal Wing, and we’re bringing the bat-tastic vibes!
WELCOME!
Step into the shadows and honour a baddie in your life by naming a Jamaican fruit bat while helping revitalize the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s Nocturnal Wing!
Available for a limited time only, Battys for Baddies invites you into the upside-down world of our colony, giving you the opportunity to symbolically adopt and name one of our bats.
Adoptions will support the revitalization of the Nocturnal Wing, helping refresh the living space for our colony and our special Geri-bat-ric Ward residents as they age, while improving visibility and enhancing how visitors experience and understand these often misunderstood animals through new viewing windows, improved lighting, and updated educational signage.
$25 DONATION
Are you a bat-lovin’ baddie? Show your love for our spooktacular winged friends by donating $25 to the Battys for Baddies Campaign. For your donation, you’ll receive a fun, bat-themed, downloadable thank-you card.
$50 DONATION
Want to symbolically name & adopt a bat in honor of your favorite “baddie”? Show your love for our winged friends by donating $50 to the Battys for Baddies Campaign and you’ll receive a dIGITAL adoption certificate!
FOR NAMING INSPO, HERE’S A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FAVE BAT NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CAMPAIGNS:
HOLY, BAT EXAM!
Big things are happening at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, and that includes an exciting upgrade to our Nocturnal Wing!
Before construction could begin, one very important task had to take place: safely relocating our colony of 100 Jamaican fruit bats and conducting comprehensive veterinary exams on each and every one of them.
So… How Do You Examine 100 Bats?
The short answer? Very carefully, and with a lot of patience (and water breaks)!
As part of an exciting upgrade to our Nocturnal Wing, our colony of Jamaican fruit bats needed to be temporarily relocated, giving our animal care and veterinary teams a rare opportunity. If you have to handle 100 bats anyways, why not give each one a full exam?
What Happens During a Bat Checkup?
For many people, when they think of zoo veterinary care, they might imagine exams for large animals like tigers or takin, but even the Zoo’s smallest residents, like our fruit bats, receive hands-on, specialized care!
It’s easy to assume that a small animal means a quick exam, but in reality, small patients often require more precision.
Each of our bats received:
‣ A full visual exam to confirm sex and assess body condition – final count was a remarkable 50/50 males to females to the best of our best knowledge!
‣ A scan to check for individual ID microchips
‣ Abdominal palpation to check for any masses, fluid, or enlarged organs
‣ Checking their heart rate and breathing via stethoscope
‣ A detailed wing inspection, including checks for abrasions, thumb injuries, nail damage, and dry skin
‣ A dental check for broken teeth or signs of periodontal disease
Want to know What Happened Next?
ABOUT JAMAICAN FRUIT BATS.
With a wingspan of around 30 centimeters and a distinctive reddish-brown fur, the Jamaican Fruit Bat is a medium-sized bat known for its agility and adaptability. They are often found roosting in caves, hollow trees, or abandoned buildings during the day, while they embark on nocturnal foraging adventures to feed on various tropical fruits at night.
These bats play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitat by aiding in the regeneration of forests through seed dispersal and pollination, making them a crucial component of Jamaica’s biodiversity.
The Edmonton Valley Zoo is home to a colony of over 100 Jamaican Fruit Bats!