Bats in buildings

This Focus Group includes lesser horseshoe bats, greater horseshoe bats, grey long-eared bats, and serotine bats.

They have all been identified as Focus Species and have been grouped together as they have very similar requirements. 

What we need to do and where

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1. About

All four species roost in buildings and other structures, using different roosts through the year as maternity roosts, hibernation roosts, mating roosts, feeding roosts etc.  None of these species roost in trees, and they will not use bat boxes.  In the summer they largely roost in warm attics, roof spaces and sometimes cellars or boiler rooms. Females tend to congregate in large maternity roosts whilst males and non-breeding females often roost singly during the summer months, sometimes sharing roost spaces with other bat species.

In winter horseshoe bats and grey long-eared bats hibernate in cellars, caves and mines where temperatures are stable, and humidity is high.  Serotines hibernate in cavity walls, and disused chimneys.  The two horseshoes are the only bats that you will see hanging upside down.  These species do not generally adapt well to changes in existing roosts or to using new roosts, so it is vitally important to protect existing roosts.

All feed on flying insects within a few kilometres of their roosts.  All need a patchwork landscape with a range of insect rich habitat which can be used at different times of year, including wetlands, species rich meadows, woodlands, stream corridors etc.  All need their roosts and feeding habitat to be connected by dark linear features such as hedges, woodland edges, rivers and streams. 

All species are very sensitive to light and will avoid lit areas.  

Given their requirements these species are all great indicators of a healthy interconnected insect rich environment. 

2. What we need to do and where

Focus species

Horseshoe bats 

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This boosts the sound waves that all bats use to navigate, communicate and find food.  Due to their weak echolocation calls horseshoe bats generally have to stay near (~ 5m) to linear features to navigate around the countryside.  Low flyers xxxxx

Greater horseshoe bat

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Explain population distribution – caves Berry Head, Buckfastleigh,Beer,Tavistock mines, North Devon etc etc  South Hams SAC, Beer Caves SAC connectivity zone pinched droppings xxxxxxxxx.

Lesser horseshoe bat

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Devon is a stronghold for Lessers and we have a national responsibility to ensure that our population remains robust.  They feed on insects (flies, bees, wasps, lacewings and small moths) xxxx. Pinched droppings xxx   Found across Devon. 

Actions for all Bats in buildings

Protect roosts

  • Protect all existing roosts and take all opportunities to create new roosts.
  • Carry out DNA testing when long eared bats are found to ensure that the species is correctly identified.

Connect foraging habitat / flight lines 

  • Protect, manage and create insect rich habitats such as wetlands, grasslands, parklands and woodlands.
  • Ensure that these are connected to roosts by dark flight lines (hedges, stream corridors, tree lines) .
  • Reduce the use of pesticides including avermectins as much as possible. 

Please see Pesticides page for more details.

Reduce light pollution 

  • Ensure roosts, flight lines and foraging habitats are kept dark (< 0.5 lux and warm lighting).
  • Find funding for radiotracking to identify roosts.  Ensure that all new records are shared with Devon Bat Group and DBRC .

Please see Lighting page for details. 

Where to focus actions

Lesser horseshoes and serotines are widespread across Devon other than exposed uplands and the actions are needed across the county.   Greater horseshoe bats and grey long-eared bats have a more restricted range and Focus Landscapes have been mapped to show where action is most needed for these species. 

Mapped areas are based on feeding areas around key roosts (sustenance zones) and the landscape between the roosts (landscape connectivity zones).

For more details please see the LNRS viewer.

3. Inspiration

There’s lots of great work going on across Devon for bats. For example:

Where to visit

Always follow the Countryside Code and keep to footpaths and sites which are managed for public access.

Sites with bat cameras

Sites which have bat cameras include xxxxx. Best way to see bats is to join a bat walk xxxxxxxxx.

For information on visiting these and other sites see the Explore Devon website.

4. Find out more

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