In total, nine species of bat dart around the skies of Vancouver Island. Some have noteworthy names such as Yuma myotis, Townsend’s big-eared bat and hoary bat.

In a flurry of wings, six mother bats drop from their roost and take to the half-lit sky. “Wow!” says Heather Thomson.

There is everything from garden paths with manicured surroundings to more wild routes with some elevation changes. There are ...