British Bats

A little different to our other spotlight pages, here we'll discuss insectivorous bats with a focus on the 17 species found in Britain, in particular the common pipistrelle.

Full Name: Common Pipistrelle

Latin Name: Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Classification: Mammal

Adult Weight: The common pipistrelle weighs 4 to 8 grams, and the larger noctule bat can weigh up to 40.

Adult Length: Common pipistrelles are up to 4.5cm nose to tail, and a wingspan of up to 25cm. Noctules are up to 8cm long with a wingspan of up to 40cm.

Lifespan: The common pipistrelle can live for 10-15 years, and the greater horseshoe bat have been known to live over 30!

Preferred Habitat: Woodlands, wetlands, and urban areas: anywhere they can find insects to hunt. They roost in old trees, buildings or caves, depending on the species.

Status: All bats are legally protected in Britain. Some like the greater horseshoe bat are endangered, while others like the pipistrelle are stable but still at risk.

The common pipistrelle is Britain’s most widespread bat species. © Rudmer Zwerver

British Bats

Britain is home to 17 species of bats, each playing a vital role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. These nocturnal mammals are natural pest controllers, feasting on insects and helping balance populations that could otherwise damage crops or spread disease. From the tiny common pipistrelle to the larger noctule, bats navigate the night skies with remarkable agility, using echolocation to hunt and communicate. Despite their importance, many bat species are under threat, making conservation efforts crucial to protect their habitats and ensure their continued role in Britain’s biodiversity.

Why are Bats Important to Rewilding?

Bats are vital to rewilding efforts due to their role as natural pest controllers, helping to balance insect populations without the need for chemical pesticides. By maintaining healthy ecosystems, bats support the re-establishment of diverse plant and animal species. Their presence indicates a thriving environment, as they rely on rich habitats with abundant insects and safe roosting sites. Protecting and restoring bat populations contributes to broader biodiversity, making them key players in rewilding projects aimed at revitalising natural landscapes.

The brown long-eared bat’s ears are almost as long as its body. © Rudmer Zwerver

Past Bat Rewilding Efforts

The rewilding project at Knepp has seen significant bat activity due to habitat restoration efforts. By allowing natural processes to regenerate woodlands, wetlands, and scrubland, the estate has created ideal environments for bats like the greater horseshoe bat and noctule. The diverse landscape supports abundant insect life, providing rich feeding grounds. Surveys have shown a significant increase in bat species diversity since the project began, and the site is now home to 13 of Britain's 17 native species.

Bat Conservation Trust works to protect and restore bat habitats across the UK. © Johanna Schen

Current & Future Bat Rewilding Projects

Current rewilding efforts in Britain, such as those led by the National Trust and the Bat Conservation Trust, are focused on habitat restoration and reducing pesticide use to support bat populations. Projects that reforest areas, restore hedgerows, and improve wetland habitats are crucial in providing bats with abundant food sources and safe roosting areas.

Looking ahead, future rewilding projects will likely emphasise wildlife corridors, connecting fragmented habitats to support bat movement and breeding. There's also growing interest in urban rewilding, where bats could play an important role in maintaining insect populations and increasing biodiversity in cities. By incorporating bats into rewilding efforts, both rural and urban environments can thrive, ensuring the survival of these important nocturnal creatures.

The greater horseshoe bat is one of Britain’s rarest bat species. © Carl Allen

The common pipistrelle is very small, weighing just 4 to 8 grams. © Vera Larina

Physical Description

British bats are generally small, with wingspans ranging from 20 to 35 cm and bodies no larger than a thumb. Their wings are made of thin, flexible skin stretched between elongated fingers, giving them incredible manoeuvrability in flight. Fur colours vary, from the dark brown of the common pipistrelle to the greyish tones of the grey long-eared bat. Most bats have large ears relative to their body size, aiding in echolocation, while their small, sharp teeth are perfect for catching and eating insects. Despite their delicate appearance, these creatures are agile and powerful hunters of the night.

Barbastelle bats prefer to roost in old trees and woodland. © Zolran, Shutterstock

Bat Behaviour

Bats are nocturnal creatures, emerging at dusk to hunt for insects using echolocation, a system where they emit high-frequency calls and listen for the returning echoes to locate prey and navigate. They are social animals, often roosting in colonies in trees, caves, or buildings, and some species, like the common pipistrelle, are known to share roosts with hundreds of other bats. During the colder months, bats enter hibernation, conserving energy by lowering their body temperature and metabolism, typically in undisturbed places like caves, old buildings, or trees. They are also migratory, with some species moving short distances to find ideal hibernation or roosting sites.

What Threats do Bats Face?

Bats in Britain face several threats, with habitat loss being the most significant. Deforestation, urban development, and the destruction of roosting sites, such as old trees and buildings, reduce the places where bats can safely live and forage. The use of pesticides in agriculture and gardens also depletes their food supply by killing off the insects they rely on.

Bats are also sensitive to light pollution, which disrupts their natural hunting patterns, and climate change poses long-term risks by altering insect populations and hibernation cycles.

Light pollution can disrupt bats’ natural hunting patterns. © Mohan Nannapaneni

Bats play a crucial role in controlling insect populations. © PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay

What do Bats Eat?

British bats are primarily insectivorous, meaning their diet consists mostly of insects. They use echolocation to hunt flying insects such as moths, beetles, and mosquitoes during the night. They can eat thousands of small insects in a single night, playing a crucial role in controlling pest populations. Some bats, like the Daubenton's bat, specialise in catching insects that hover over water, such as midges. Their diet varies seasonally, with bats consuming different insects depending on availability throughout the year.

Bats are often seen flying along hedgerows and woodland edges at dusk. © Angeles Balaguer

Cultural Significance

Bats have long held a mixed place in human culture, often associated with mystery and the supernatural due to their nocturnal nature. In Britain, they are sometimes linked to folklore and myths, where they were once viewed with suspicion or fear.

When European explorers discovered vampire bats in South America in the 16th century, their behaviour reinforced existing myths about blood-drinking creatures like vampires. This association was further popularised in literature, most notably through Bram Stoker’s Dracula, where the vampire could transform into a bat. While only three species of vampire bats exist (none of which are found in Britain), this link has persisted in popular culture, casting bats as symbols of the eerie and supernatural, despite their ecological importance.

Distribution of the Bat

Bats are found throughout Britain, from urban areas to rural landscapes, but their distribution depends on species and habitat availability. Woodland, wetland, and hedgerow-rich regions tend to have the highest bat activity, as these provide abundant insects and roosting sites.

Species like the common pipistrelle are widespread and can be found in towns, cities, and the countryside, while rarer species, such as the greater horseshoe bat, are more restricted to specific regions, like south-west England and Wales. Bats are generally less common in Scotland, but some species do thrive in the more temperate parts of the country.

Bat echolocation calls are so high-pitched that humans can’t hear them. © tomatomicek, Pixabay

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