Bats

Bats are excellent indicators of a healthy, connected and insect-rich environment.  

Bat droppings are dry and crumble easily into fine powder (unlike rodent droppings).

16 of the UK’s 17 breeding bat species are found in Devon.

What we need to do and where

Image caption or title (to be replaced)Image credits

1. About

Devon’s diverse range of habitats, connected by watercourses and hedges, provides excellent bat habitat.  All breeding British bats are found here other than the Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe).

All species need roosts for shelter, insect-rich habitats for feeding, and dark linear features which many bats follow when flying between roosts and feeding areas. See the drop downs for more information.

Seven species of bats are listed as Devon Species of Conservation Concern, lesser horseshoe, greater horseshoe, Bechstein’s, barbastelle, serotine, grey-long eared and noctule. All, other than noctule, are also identified as Focus Species that need specific action or attention. Devon is a stronghold for greater horseshoes, lesser horseshoes and grey long-eared bats which are listed as Devon Special Species. 

All British bats are UK priority species and are legally protected.

Roosts

All Devon’s bats need safe, dry roosts where they can rest, feed, sleep, raise their young and hibernate. Roosts can include holes in trees and structures such as caves, mines and buildings. However different types of roost are used by different species.  For instance, Bechstein’s and barbastelle largely roost in trees whilst lesser and greater horseshoes generally don’t use trees or bat boxes, preferring large roof spaces and caves. Many species don’t adapt well to new roosts, or changes to roosts, and so it’s vitally important to look after them.

Bats use different roosts for different activities. Summer maternity roosts are the largest as females gather together to give birth and raise their young. Males and non-breeding females often roost alone in summer, although will sometimes share roost spaces, including with other bat species. Most bats tuck themselves into tiny crevices whilst horseshoes can be seen hanging upside down. 

Foraging habitat and flight lines

All Devon’s bats feed on flying insects, generally within a few kilometres of their roosts, although some, such as barbastelle, will travel further to forage. All need a patchwork landscape with a range of insect-rich habitats which they can use at different times of the year. All insect-rich habitats are important (including wetlands, field margins, species-rich meadows, broadleaved woodlands, wet woodlands, hedgerows, well vegetated watercourse corridors, parks and gardens) but again some species will prefer certain habitats. Daubenton’s bats are generally seen feeding over water whilst Bechstein’s largely forage in woodlands.  
 
All bats need their roosts and feeding habitat to be connected by dark linear features such as hedges, woodland edges, rivers and streams. They use echolocation to navigate around the countryside, communicate and hunt for insects.    

Lighting

Most bats are sensitive to light and avoid lit areas. However, a few species, particularly pipistrelles, noctule and serotine, are less sensitive and will feed under streetlights which attract insects such as moths. 

Key pressures and opportunities

The main issues for bats are loss or deterioration of roosts, lack of insects, lack of connectivity and lighting.  Specific issues relating to Focus Species are discussed below.

Recent research by the Butterfly Conservation Trust, Rothamsted Research and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology published in 2021 has revealed a 33% decline in the populations of larger moths in the UK over the last 50 years

2. What we need to do and where

Priority

Increase the abundance and distribution of bats across Devon, particularly those identified as Focus Species.

See Find out more below for any relevant national and local targets.

Focus species

Headline information is set out below. For more detailed information see Find out more.

Greater horseshoe bat 

Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
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Horseshoe bats

Greater and lesser horseshoe bats are named for the horseshoe-shaped fold of skin around their nostrils which is known as a nose leaf (Rhinolophus is Greek for nose crest). This boosts the weak sound waves they emit to navigate, communicate and find food.

Size: Greater horseshoes are a large bat, around the size of a pear. Lesser horseshoes are about the size of a plum and one of the UK’s smallest bats.

Roosts: In summer both species roost in warm attics, roof spaces and sometimes cellars or boiler rooms. In winter they hibernate in cellars, caves and mines, where temperatures are stable and humidity is high. Both hang upside down in roosts (rather than tucking themselves into crevices) with their wings wrapped around their bodies. As they prefer large roost spaces neither species will generally use bat boxes or trees.  They can be identified by their droppings which have a distinctive pinch in the middle.

Flight: Both species have weak echolocation calls and so generally stay within 5m of linear features to navigate around the countryside. This means that they’re low flying and more vulnerable to road collisions than higher flying bats such as serotines and noctules.

Lighting: Both species are very light sensitive and will avoid lit areas.

Foraging habitat:

Greater horseshoe bats feed on different insects at different times of year. In the spring females feed over pastures eating beetles such as cockchafers and dung beetles (which live on cow pats). In the summer bats and their young feed mainly on moths and later in the summer craneflies form a kay part of their diet. Whilst cattle grazed pastures are important, they also feed in woodlands, wetlands and along hedge corridors and along watercourses – anywhere which is insect-rich.

Adults generally forage within 4kms of maternity roosts whilst juveniles hunt within around 1km and are very dependent on grazed pasture. The distance that greater horseshoes forage from winter roosts is thought to be around 2kms.

Population:

The greater horseshoe is rare in the UK and confined to southwest England and south Wales. It’s estimated that the number of bats declined by over 90% in the last 100 years. Reasons for the decline are thought to be due to disturbance to roosts, loss of permanent pastures and lack of insects. The population is now increasing but from very low levels.

Devon holds a third of the UK’s greater horseshoe bat population and many of the larger maternity and hibernation roosts have been designated as SSSIs or SAC (South Hams and Beer Quarry and Caves SAC). However, there are a number of large roosts in caves and mines which are not designated. 

Lesser horseshoe bat

Rhinolophus hipposideros
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Horseshoe bats

See greater horseshoe above for information on both species, including roosts.

Foraging habitat

Lesser horseshoes have very similar foraging requirements to greater horseshoes. However, they feed on smaller insects (flies, bees, wasps, lacewings and small moths) and have a stronger association with woodland, wet woodland, parkland, scrub and sheltered valleys.

Lesser horseshoes are weaker flying than greater horseshoes and generally forage within 2.5 kms of summer roosts and 1.2kms of hibernation roosts.

Population

The lesser horseshoe bat is rare in the UK and confined to Wales and western England. The population is slowly growing but, as for greater horseshoes, this is from a low level and the population remains vulnerable. Pressures include lighting, changes in connectivity, loss of roosts and a declining insect population.   

Devon is a national stronghold for lesser horseshoes, and we have over 30 large maternity roosts. These are found across the county other than the exposed uplands of Dartmoor and Exmoor.  We have a national responsibility to ensure that the population remains robust.

Grey long-eared bat

Plecotus austriacus
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Habitat

This species roosts in crevices in roof spaces in a range of buildings including houses, churches and barns. They usually roost inside the ridge tiles or against the ridge board. Maternity roosts are often in pre-Victorian or Victorian buildings, with large loft spaces. Open-fronted barns form part of their network of day and night roosts. They have never been recorded using bat boxes.

They feed largely on flies and moths (especially the yellow large underwing one of our most abundant large moths which feeds on a range of plants and grasses) in grasslands and wetlands (marshes, ponds, watercourses). They also feed in broadleaved woodland in periods of colder, wetter weather. They largely forage within 5kms of maternity roosts and unlike some species will feed in the middle of meadows as well as around the edges.

Like horseshoes they are very light sensitive.

Population

The grey long-eared bat is the UK’s rarest bat species with a population of around only 1,000 animals and declining. The UK population is thought to be below the minimum size needed to ensure survival and it is therefore classed as ‘endangered’ and at very high risk of extinction.

Maternity roosts are currently only known in Devon, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. Half of the known maternity roosts are in Devon, most within 5km of the coast in south and east Devon.  Devon has a special responsibility for grey long-eared bats, and they are listed as a Devon Special Species.

Grey long-eared bats can be confused with the much more widespread and numerous brown long-eared bat which looks very similar and can occupy the same roost. It is therefore critical that DNA testing of droppings in roosts is carried out to identify which species is present. See Find out more for a link to guidance. 

Serotine bat

Eptesicus serotinus
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Habitat

Serotines mainly roost in crevices in buildings, often older buildings. They have large oval droppings which are often found around chimney bases or at gable ends of roof spaces. Hibernating serotines have been found inside cavity walls, and in disused chimneys, and it is possible that they remain in the same buildings used during the summer for some of the winter.  

They feed on a range of larger insects including beetles, flies and moths. They generally feed within 3kms of roosts in a range of open insect-rich habitats such as parklands and wood pasture, traditional orchards and pastures but will also use tree lines, woodland edges and tree lined watercourses. 

Serotines are one of the largest bats in Britain and are strong fliers. They can be seen feeding around treetops in parks, gardens and other habitats as they often emerge when it is still light. They are less sensitive of lighting that other species such as horseshoes and may be seen foraging around streetlights. However, that can still be negatively impacted by lighting which may alter their behaviour as well as increasing the risk of predation.

Population

Serotines are found in southern England and Wales.  The population appears to be stable but is classed as vulnerable to extinction and monitoring by the Bat Conservation Trust has shown that they may be declining (see links in Find out more).  We need to justify why this is a Focus Species. 

Actions for horseshoes, grey long-eared bats and serotines

Manage and create a landscape with roosts and networks of dark insect-rich habitats to provide flight lines and foraging habitats.

  • Roosts: Look after existing roosts and create new ones, particularly large roof spaces, boiler rooms and caves.
  • Foraging habitat: Manage and create a network of dark connected insect-rich habitats to provide foraging habitat. Cattle grazed pastures with dung beetles are particularly important for greater horseshoes. See Habitats for more actions.
  • Flight lines: Manage and create a network of dark flight lines connecting roosts and foraging habitats, especially hedge corridors, woodland edges and watercourse corridors. See Habitats for more actions
  • Insects: Minimise the use of, and target applications of, pesticides and avermectins to reduce impacts on insects.
  • Reduce light pollution. Avoid light spill onto roosts and habitats used by bats (hedgerows, watercourse corridors, woodlands, parks, meadows etc). Light spill should be a maximum of 0.5 lux which is similar to a full moon on a clear night. Use warm amber lighting.
  • Always carry out DNA testing of droppings in a long-eared bat roost to clarify whether the common brown long-eared or rare grey long-eared bat is present. See Find out more for a link to guidance.
  • Be aware of legislative requirements and Devon Planning Guidance.

Where to focus action

As lesser horseshoes and serotines are found across Devon (other than the exposed uplands) the actions are relevant everywhere. 

Species Opportunity Areas are mapped to show where actions are particularly needed for greater horseshoes and grey long-eared bats:

  • Landscape connectivity zone – all actions but particularly relating to dark flight lines.
  • Sustenance zones – all actions, particularly cattle grazed pastures in greater horseshoe sustenance zones.

Barbastelle bat

Barbastella barbastellus
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Habitat

Black barbastelle bats roost in crevices in broadleaved woodland trees, often under loose bark, in cracks or deep inside hollow trees during cold weather. They prefer woods with a dense understorey which helps to maintain humid roost conditions, and which form part of a network of woods in a landscape.

During the summer female bats will move their maternity roosts (generally 10-20 bats) between trees to maintain optimum temperature and humidity. Roosts (non-maternity) can also be found in old buildings where they use crevice features that replicate their tree roosts.

Whilst barbastelles will mainly forage in woodlands around their roosts, they will also use other insect-rich habitats such as meadows (especially wet grasslands and mires), ponds and watercourses.  They are specialist moth hunters but eat other insects such as lacewings, caddis flies and small beetles.

They generally feed in a six km radius of maternity roosts which means that this area is critically important. However, they also travel long distances and have been recorded travelling up to 20km to reach foraging areas. They are very light sensitive.

Population

Barbastelles are largely found in southern England and Wales.  The population has declined by 99% over the last 500 years and they are a threatened species.  

Barbastelles are recorded across Devon and are commonly picked up in bat surveys, but in low numbers.  Maternity roosts are only known from east and south Dartmoor and northwest of Tavistock and there are concentrations of records around east Dartmoor and the coast around Braunton and Bideford. However, there are likely to be roosts in woodlands across Devon which have not been recorded. The Exmoor and Quantocks Oakwoods SAC is partially designated for barbastelles.

Bechstein's bat

Myotis bechsteinii
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Habitat

Bechstein’s bat is our only bat species which relies entirely on mature native woodland for all parts of its lifecycle. They generally prefer native broadleaved woodlands with a diversity of trees ages and structure.  They are thought to prefer larger oak dominated woodlands (over 25 hectares) with a closed canopy and dense understorey providing humid, dark condition. However, bats in Devon are known to roost in small copses.

Bechstein’s roost in holes in native broadleaved woodland trees (favouring old oak trees) but have also been found roosting in old remnant oak trees in conifer plantations. They have also been found using bat and bird boxes. Like barbastelles they will switch roosts regularly during the summer to find optimum conditions. They hibernate in caves but are likely to also use hollow trees. 

Bechstein’s generally feed in woodlands within a three km radius of maternity roosts.  They mainly eat moths, beetles, craneflies, lacewings and spiders.

Population

Bechstein’s are confined to southern England with a stronghold in Dorset and are one of the UK’s rarest bats. There are only two known small populations in Devon. However, they have a very quiet call and are difficult to detect.  Beer Quarry and Caves support a few hibernating Bechstein’s, and this is one of the reasons for its designation as a SSSI and SAC. They have been radiotracked from the caves to maternity roosts around Shute.  The only other known roost is near Newton Abbot.

Actions for Bechstein’s and barbastelles

Manage and create a landscape with networks of dark insect-rich habitats (particularly woodlands) with ancient and veteran trees, to provide roosts, flight lines and foraging habitats.

  • Ancient and veteran trees: Always survey for bats before carrying out any work to trees in woodlands and ensure that bats aren’t impacted. Aim to safeguard any trees that could be suitable for barbastelles (with loose bark, cracks, hollows) or Bechstein’s (holes).
  • Follow best practice guidance to maximise the wildlife value of ancient and veteran trees in woodlands, including leaving deadwood and where needed carrying out veteranisation to create roosting feature.  See the Ancient and veteran tree page for more actions.
  • Woodlands: Manage woodlands to ensure that there are always some areas with a closed canopy and dense understorey creating dark, humid conditions.  Avoid carrying out works that will cause sudden changes in light levels or humidity. Create a network of woodlands, including wet woodlands, across landscapes.  See Broadleaved woodlands and Wet woodlands for more actions.
  • Expert advice. Obtain advice from an expert if there is any likelihood of barbastelle or Bechstein’s being present or to manage any woodlands for these species.
  • Other foraging habitats: Manage and create a network of dark connected insect-rich habitats to provide foraging habitat for barbastelles. See Habitats for more actions.
  • Flight lines: Manage and create a network of dark flight lines connecting woodlands and other foraging habitats, especially hedge corridors, woodland edges and watercourse corridors. See Habitats for more actions.
  • Insects: Minimise the use of, and target applications of, pesticides and avermectins to reduce impacts on insects.
  • Reduce light pollution. Avoid light spill onto woodlands and all other habitats potentially used by barbastelles (hedgerows, watercourse corridors, woodlands, parks, meadows etc). Light spill should be a maximum of 0.5 lux which is similar to a full moon on a clear night. Use warm amber lighting.
  • Be aware of legislative requirements and Devon Planning Guidance.

Where to focus action

As barbastelles are found across Devon (other than the exposed uplands) the actions are relevant everywhere. 

Species Opportunity Areas are mapped to show where actions are particularly needed for Bechstein’s:

Landscape connectivity zone – all actions but particularly relating to the creation of a network of continuous woodlands (or woody habitats).

Sustenance zones – all actions, particularly relating to tree roosts, woodland management and creation and lighting.

Actions for all bats

Habitat management and creation

Bats are found in most habitats across Devon and will benefit from the generic actions set out on the Habitat pages. See the list of Devon Species of Conservation Concern to find out which habitats support these species. Anyone managing habitats with rare bats should be aware of their needs.

Some Devon habitats and common themes are particularly important for bats. These include:

Survey / research   

  • Secure funding for more surveys and research into the location and needs of Devon’s rare bats, particularly greater horseshoes, Bechstein’s and barbastelles. 
  • Borrow a detector from the Devon Wildlife Trust’s Devon Bat Project and find out more about bats in your area – will this continue to run?  Other ways that people can borrow a detector? Ask BCT  Devon Bat Group…..
  • Share records with the Devon Bat Group and Devon Biodiversity Records Centre
  • Join and support the Devon Bat Group.

3. Inspiration

Case studies

To add through consultation

Devon Bat Project

The Bat Conservation Trust’s new Connecting People and Landscapes project is working with landowners and local communities in south and east Devon, promoting regenerative farming to restore habitats. Lesser horseshoe bats are one of the focus species.  

Research into Devon’s greater horseshoes using radiotracking masts…..led by Fiona Mathews. Add details and any links.

Where to visit

Look out for bat walks organised by Devon Bat Group, Devon Wildlife Trust and others.   

Visit Arlington Court (National Trust) in North Devon, which has a screen linking to a camera on a lesser horseshoe bat roost.   

4. Find out more

More detailed information on bats including ecological requirements and details of population trends from the National Bat Monitoring Programme can be found on the Bat Conservation Trust website.

Join the Devon Bat Group

Contact the Devon Bat Group and the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre for bat data.

Devon planning guidance for bats can be found on the Devon County Council website at Wildlife and geology planning guidance – Environment. Guidance documents include more details on the ecology of the bats and useful references.

  • The South Hams SAC Greater Horseshoe Bat Guidance
  • Beer Quarry and Caves SAC Guidance (lesser horseshoes, greater horseshoes and Bechstein’s)
  • Greater Horseshoe Bat Ecology and Habitat Management
  • Grey long-eared bat Guidance
  • Dark Corridors Guidance

The Bat Conservation Trust has produced a useful Guide to identifying long-eared bats as part of their work on grey long-eared bats.

Species overview’s for the LNRS

Written by Ruth Testa for the LNRS, 2025

Greater horseshoe bat

Lesser horseshoe bat

Grey long-eared bat

Barbastelle bat

Bechstein’s bat

Serotine bat

Lighting

Devon LNP Dark Skies pages– see https://www.devonlnp.org.uk/

Devon Dark Corridors Guidance – Wildlife and geology planning guidance – Environment

The Bat Conservation Trust produces guidance on lighting.  Lighting – Threats to bats – Bat Conservation Trust including a guidance note – Guidance Note 08/23, Bats and artificial lighting at night, Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), 2023 on the Bat Conservation Trust website.

Other useful links

Razgour, O. (et al.) 2013 Conserving Grey Long-Eared Bats (Plecotus austriacus) in our Landscape: a Conservation Management Plan   

Back from the Brink species factsheets / guides   

Woodland management advice for Bechstein’s bat and barbastelle bat, Greenway F., Hill, D. 2004

Bat Prey Species Association

Zeale, M.R.K., Davidson-Watts, I. and Jones, G. Home range use and habitat selection by barbastelle bats (Barbastella barbastellus): implications for conservation, Journal of Mammalogy, 93(4):1110–1118, 2012

Mathews, F., Kubasiewicz L.M., Gurnell, J., Harrower C.A., McDonald R.A. and Shore R.F. (2018) A review of the population and conservation status of British Mammals, Natural England Joint Publication JP025.

A recent paper https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.14540 provides the demographic history analysis which shows that British barbastelle populations have declined by 99% over the past 330-548 years.

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