International Bat Appreciation Day 2020

Each year on April 17th, International Bat Appreciation Day reminds us of the role bats play in our daily lives. Bats have a vital role in ecosystems around the world. They are a diverse group of animals accounting for over 20% of the world's mammals.

Bats are a very important part of our ecosystem and a measure of the health of our environment. However, bats have a bad reputation because they’re often portrayed as ‘scary bloodsuckers that will spread diseases’, particularly in recent events with Covid-19. Numerous scientific studies have shown that it is very rare for bats to spread diseases – it is only when the food chain is interrupted or manipulated by human activity that diseases (such as Covid-19) are spread.

April is also the best time of the year to observe bats, as they are now beginning to emerge from hibernation. The UK has 18 species of bat, 17 of which are known to be breeding here - that's almost a quarter of our mammal species. You might be lucky enough to see them flying over gardens, amongst the trees or above the water on a summer evening. Bats generally emerge from their roost around 20 minutes after sunset and fly between 2 and 10m above ground level searching for their food.

In the UK all bat species feed on insects in a wide range of habitats from wetland, woodlands, hedgerows, grassland, farmland and urban habitats. A single pipistrelle, the UK’s smallest bat species group, can consume up to 3,000 insects in one night which they catch and eat on the wing.

In flight, bats are fast and jerky as they chase small insects. Most British bats are small with wingspans shorter than a sparrow. However, the largest bat, the noctule, can have a wingspan up to 50cm.

Bats live in roosts and they need different roosting conditions at different times of year. Some bats prefer hollow trees for roosting, some like caves and some use both at different times. Many bat species use buildings, both old and new, for roosting in spaces behind hanging or lifted tiles or in roof spaces and cellars. Bat boxes are also put to good use.

In the UK, bats are Indicator Species and changes to the bat populations can indicate changes in the biodiversity both locally and nationally. For example, bats might be impacted when their habitats are destroyed or poorly managed creating a drop in the insect populations.

Lesser Horseshoe bats found during a bat survey undertaken by Ellendale Environmental