Bats

If you have seen bats fly and hunt prey, you will know they are amazing animals. More than a quarter of all mammal species in the UK are bats, as such they are a vital component of our local wildlife and a good indicator of a healthy environment. There are 17 bat species within the UK and the South West has the greatest variety of species in the country. All bats are protected by law in the UK.

Bats are very clean animals and cause no damage to the buildings and trees in which they roost. Bats are not blind and in addition to sight many species have highly developed ultrasonic bio-sonar capabilities referred to as echolocating. Echolocating allows bats to find their prey as they fly. The returning echoes give information on their surroundings and prey. The bio-sonar that bats use is too high a frequency for most humans to hear but bat detectors can be used to translate these calls.

Bats sometimes fly into rooms of houses. This is generally in July and August when young bats are still refining their echolocation skills. If a bat enters your house, the best thing to do is to open an outside window or door, and close doors leading to the rest of the house. The bat will normally return outside if left in peace, so enjoy the experience while you can.

The Bat Conservation Trust provides a wealth of information about bats including guidance if you need help with a bat. You can also call their National Bat Helpline on 0845 1300228 for any bat related issue.

Useful information for developers in relation to bats is available from Natural England. Bats can roost in buildings, trees or other structures such as forts and mines. It may be necessary to have a bat survey undertaken and apply for a licence before conducting any building work that could affect bats.

If you wish to get more hands on experience of bats, contact either the Devon Bat Group or the Cornwall Bat Group.

For more information on bats please view our Bats in Plymouth page.