Who Goes Bump In The Night? Alberta’s Spookiest Creatures

As October nights grow long and Halloween approaches, imaginations stir with things that go bump in the dark. Popular lore of the season conjures bats sweeping through the night sky, owls calling like ghosts from the trees, and spiders weaving their webs in abandoned corners. Many of the creatures we cast as Halloween villains aren’t hiding in haunted houses at all; they’re alive and well in Alberta’s backyards and wild spaces. In truth, these neighbours are far from wicked. Each plays a vital role in Alberta’s ecosystems, and yet many now face their own threats, from shrinking habitats to a changing climate.

This October, let’s shine a lantern into the shadows and meet the creatures that give Halloween its chill and discover why even our eeriest neighbours are worth protecting.

Alberta’s bats swoop through the night eating thousands of insects and keeping skies clear of pests.

Bats: Masters of the Dark

No animal is as closely tied to Halloween as the bat. From gothic castles in horror stories to swarms silhouetted against a full moon, they’ve long been portrayed as ominous, blood-sucking creatures. That reputation, however, comes more from folklore than fact.

In Alberta, we have nine species of bats, and none of them drink blood. The infamous vampire bats are found only in parts of Central and South America, not here, and even those species prefer the blood of livestock to humans. Instead, Alberta’s bats are insect-eaters, using echolocation to hunt down moths, beetles, and especially mosquitoes. A single bat can consume over a thousand insects in a night, making them an important ally in controlling pest populations.

These small mammals face big challenges, though. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations in eastern North America, is moving steadily westward and poses a serious threat to Alberta’s species. Habitat loss and disturbance at roost sites add to the risks.

Another growing concern for bats is the global decline in insects. Studies around the world show steep drops in insect abundance, driven by pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change. For Alberta’s bats, this means less food in the skies. A single little brown myotis consumes half of its body weight in insects every night to fuel its high-energy flight. The loss of insects isn’t just a problem for bats; it signals cracks in the foundation of the food web that supports countless species, including our own.

So while bats may carry a spooky reputation in October, in reality, they are critical for healthy ecosystems and for keeping summer nights more bearable. The next time you see a fluttering shadow against the twilight, it’s less a creature of horror and more a natural pest-control specialist at work.

Silent wings cut through the forest as Alberta’s owls hunt unseen and keep rodent numbers in check.

Owls: The Silent Shadows

With their silent flight and piercing eyes, owls have long been cast as omens in folklore, symbols of death or harbingers of the unknown. Their haunting calls on autumn nights have only deepened the association with mystery and the supernatural.

In Alberta, however, owls are less messengers of doom and more vital players in healthy ecosystems. Great Horned Owls, Snowy Owls, and Great Grey Owls are among the fourteen Alberta species that hunt across our fields and forests, keeping rodent populations in check. Their ability to fly almost soundlessly comes from the unique structure of their feathers, which break up air turbulence and muffle the sound of their wingbeats, a real-life adaptation that feels almost supernatural.

Yet even these masters of the night are not immune to the pressures of a changing climate. Altered snowpack affects the hunting grounds of Snowy Owls, while shifting weather patterns can influence prey availability for many species. Habitat loss adds pressure: forests cleared for development mean fewer safe roosts and hunting grounds. Collisions with vehicles and power lines are another persistent threat, especially for owls that hunt along roadways where rodents are drawn.

A more insidious threat comes from rodenticides. Owls that eat poisoned rodents can suffer secondary poisoning, where toxins accumulate through their prey. These chemicals are so potent that even a single feeding on contaminated prey can prove fatal. The danger is magnified because poisoned rodents often linger for days before dying; during that time, their sluggish, abnormal behaviour makes them easier for owls to catch, turning an effective hunter’s meal into a deadly trap.

Owls may seem like eerie silhouettes against the moonlight, but their presence is a sign of balance. Protecting them ensures that Alberta’s nights stay alive with more than just ghost stories.

With a red hourglass of warning, Alberta’s black widows look fearsome but are rarely harmful to people.

Black Widows: The Hourglass Hunters

Few animals carry a reputation as fearsome as the black widow. Their glossy black bodies and the signature red hourglass marking on the abdomen have made them a staple of cautionary tales. The truth is much less sinister and much more complicated. 

In Alberta, black widows are most often found in the southern parts of the province, tucking themselves into dry, sheltered places like woodpiles, sheds, or rocky crevices, weaving webs to catch their prey. They don’t go hunting for humans, and they’ll usually only bite when they feel cornered, such as if someone’s hand accidentally brushes against them. Even when a rare bite does occur, the short fangs of the black widow cannot always penetrate human skin, and the spider may only inject a small amount of venom. Fatalities are virtually unheard of in Canada thanks to modern medicine, and most encounters are more startling than harmful. 

What makes the black widow’s story spooky today isn’t the spider itself, but the warming climate beneath its legs. Black widows once clung to Alberta’s southernmost edges, limited by long winters and cold nights that kept them in check. Now, rising temperatures are shifting those limits. Sightings are becoming more common farther north, as once inhospitable places are slowly transformed into suitable habitat. The black widows’ northward creep is a warning: climate change is not a distant threat; it is already here, altering the makeup of Alberta’s ecosystems. 

Protecting our spooky neighbours:

Bats, owls, spiders–each of these creatures may seem spooky, but protecting them comes down to simple choices. For bats, that might mean installing a bat house, keeping cats indoors, or protecting old trees where they roost. For owls, it’s as easy as slowing down when driving at night and avoiding the use of rodenticides, as poisoned mice often mean poisoned owls. For spiders, giving them space to hunt in peace can prevent human and spider conflict. 

Beyond these actions, the biggest step we can take is addressing climate change. Rising greenhouse gas emissions are shifting ranges, altering food webs, and making life harder for every species, not just the ones that star in Halloween tales. Small choices add up: using less energy at home, walking or biking when possible, planting trees, and supporting healthy green spaces in our communities all make a difference.

This October, the real fright isn’t bats, owls, or spiders; it’s the future they face if we don’t act. By making mindful choices in our daily lives, we can ensure Alberta’s nights stay alive with fluttering wings and haunting calls, not silent skies.

And remember to practice safe Halloween decor practices!

For assistance with injured and orphaned wildlife, please contact the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at 403-214-1312.

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From glowing eyes to silent wings and hidden webs, Alberta’s bats, owls and spiders are more than symbols of fear. They are guardians of balance.