Bats are some of the most fascinating mammal species in the UK that play important roles in our ecosystems. So much has yet to be discovered about British bats, but what we have learned so far about some of their unique adaptations makes their conservation a top priority.
Bats live alongside humans, even in our houses, and yet their behaviour rarely results in human interaction. As consultant ecologists, people often tell us that they haven't seen any bats and that they do not have them living in their house. Then, after completing bat surveys at their site, we get to provide them with some rare insights into their unique cohabitants.
Bats hibernating in a tunnel in Southern England (above). Photos taken under licence.
Having been involved in hundreds of building development projects where bats are sometimes encountered, this guide to UK bats aims to answer the important questions which professionals may ask, as well as provide interesting information about bats and dispel some of the myths.
Bat ecology and surveys
Lesser horseshoe Rhinolophus hipposideros roost in Wales (above). Photos taken under licence.
Bats in the UK are most active from around half an hour before sunset to half and hour before sunrise and when weather conditions are consistently above ~10 degrees Celsius (May onwards) so bat surveys tend to take place during these periods. The type of bat survey methodology used depends on several factors including the aim of the survey, the species of bat being surveyed and the habitat being surveyed.
Surveys can be used to inform planning decisions for development projects, support bat conservation and even species-specific bat research.
Bats and disease
Bats, like many mammals including those we keep as pets, can carry diseases which can spread to humans. Animal to human transmissible diseases are called zoonotic diseases. Although some species of bats in the UK can carry a rabies-like virus known as European bat lyssavirus, the risk of catching the disease is extremely low because it is rarely found in bats in the UK and direct physical contact is required for the disease to be transmitted. Bat workers are required to have rabies vaccinations when handling bats under an appropriate protected species licence.
It is important to note that it is illegal to handle bats without a license in the UK, and if a bat is found to be injured or in distress, it should be reported to the Bat Conservation Trust (link here) and handled by a licensed bat worker.
Bat facts
Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus being relocated under licence (above).
Handy facts about British bats:
There are 18 species of bats in the UK. The most common species are the common pipistrelle, soprano pipistrelle, and noctule.
Bats in the UK are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The UK’s smallest bat is the common pipistrelle, which weighs only 3-8 grams and has a wingspan of around 20cm.
The UK’s largest bat is the noctule, which can weigh up to 40 grams and has a wingspan of up to 45cm.
Bats in the UK are insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects such as moths, beetles, and flies.
Bats are nocturnal and use echolocation to navigate and find prey.
During the winter, bats hibernate to conserve energy. Some species of bats in the UK hibernate in caves, while others hibernate in trees, buildings, or underground.
Bats can live for up to 30 years, making them one of the longest-lived mammals for their size.
In the UK, bat populations have declined due to habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as the use of pesticides that affect their prey.
Bat conservation efforts in the UK include the creation of bat roosts in buildings, the planting of bat-friendly gardens, and the protection of bat habitats through conservation schemes.
See our blog post for more facts about UK bats: Bat facts