April and May are classically the months that bats come out of their winter hibernating roosts. However the warmer climes we have been experiencing have lead to many sightings already this year. In the UK we have 17 species of bats with varying habitat preferences ranging from woodland edges to open water.

The pipistrelle bat is a species whose name is familiar to even non bat experts. It is the commonest species in the UK and hence the one you are most likely to see in the summer months. Most people report seeing bats at dusk when they can be seen leaving their roosts in search of food. Bats locate their prey by echolocation; this sophisticated form of hunting involves the bat emitting high frequency sound waves. Using echolocation means bats can distinguish objects and their insect prey and therefore avoid the object or catch the insect. However the use of echolocation does not mean that the old phrase like “blind as a bat” is true! Bats have very good eyesight and can probably see better than we can at dusk but they do require some light for hunting prey and hence why they have developed the echolocation system for hunting in the dark. Bats mainly hunt invertebrates and enjoy feasting on midges, mosquitoes, mayflies and small moths to name a few. The echolocation frequencies emitted by bats while hunting has also enabled scientists to distinguish between species meaning they pipistrelle bats has been subdivide into the common, the soprano and the rarer nathusius pipistrelle.

Bats populations have drop dramatically in the last 50 years and as a result bats and their roosts are protected by law. Despite this protection bat populations are still vulnerable to agricultural practices, while species such as the pipestrelle that often roost in buildings have also suffered as a result of building renovations, exclusion work and the treatment of timber. There is also someone a little closer to home that can pose a threat to bats. Domestic cats are often reported bringing in cats to their owners or bats are found lying on patios appearing unharmed but closer inspection shows small punctures and holes in the skin of the wings which are often difficult to fully recover from. It is only when our loveable feline friends bring in their latest catch are we reminded that they are natural predators. Nevertheless you can take steps to prevent bats falling prey to cats by ensuring that cats are brought in half an hour before sunset allowing bats to leave their roosts undisturbed.

To find out more about bats visit the

Sussex Bat Group
Bat Conservation Trust

If you have a wildlife question contact WildCall

Index photo of brown long-eared bats by Hugh Clark/Sussex Wildlife Trust