Bats

Soprano Pipistrelle - Photo copyright John Dixon

Serotine

Noctule

Natterer's bat in hibernation

Leisler's bat - Photo copyright Derek Smith

Brown long-eared bat - Photo copyright Colin Kemp

Barbastelle

BATS IN THE BELFRY

Surrey is blessed with 15 out of 18 of our bat species, the smallest being the Common Pipistrelle weighing in at a whopping 3 - 7 grams. These tiny little bats can eat 3000 insects in one night so our insects, especially moths, are essential for their survival. 

Bats can live up to 30 years - quite a long life for such a tiny mammal - and have only one baby a year.  They are our only flying mammal.

Contrary to the popular saying, they are not 'blind as a bat' at all, but due to their nocturnal habits, echolocation is much more efficient than sight hunting!  Echolocation consists of high-pitched 'shouts' while flying.  The sounds bounce off any moving insect in the air, and allow the bat to not only locate its prey, but identify its size and shape.  

In summer, most bats roost in mature trees, but they also use church steeples and lofts, old houses, and caves.

Bats hibernate by slowing down their heart rate, a state known as 'torpor'.  They are particularly vulnerable to predators at this stage. When they re-emerge in spring, they need to regain weight lost during torpor before they can mate.  Female bats gather in a nursery roost, where they give birth to one baby.  The pup is fed on milk for 4 - 5 weeks until it can fly, and learn to hunt for itself.

4 out of 11 bat species in the UK are threatened and 2 more have now become near threatened,  due mainly to habitat loss, predation by domestic cats, light pollution. 

You can help by installing a bat box - please check out the Bat Conservation Trust's advice on how & where before going ahead!

Bats are a protected species - if you find a grounded or injured bat, keep it safe and protected, and get expert help as soon as possible e.g. from the Surrey Bat Group.

Please go to The Bat Conservation Trust's website to learn more about the fascinating winged mammals, to find out about bat watching, bat identification, gardening for bats and much much more!

Our big THANK YOU goes to the Bat Conservation Trust for providing all the photos on this page!

Noctules in bat box

Natterers in hibernation - Photo copyright Derek Smith

Nathusius' pipistrelle

Daubenton's bat in hibernation

Bechstein's Bat

Alcathoe bat & whiskered bat