Bechstein's Bat

This bat emerges after nightfall and sets off in pursuit of prey; favourite items include moths, mosquitoes, and beetles. When hunting it flies low and picks prey from the ground or from twigs (2). The mating season occurs between autumn and spring, nursery roosts are occupied from the end of April/ May, and births occur towards the end of June (2). One young is produced which is able to fly by mid-August. (2).

This species is listed under English Nature's Species Recovery Programme, which includes a scheme that provides and monitors bat boxes for this species in Dorset and Wiltshire where there is a lack of roosting sites. Some hibernation sites occur within SSSIs, others have been protected against disturbance. Bechstein's bat is a priority species under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. The Action Plan for this species aims to maintain the known range and population level, and improve the age structure of woodlands to maximise roosting and foraging chances (3).

This rare tree-dwelling bat has long, broad ears with a long lancet shaped tragus (a soft cartilaginous projection in front of the ear). Adults have quite long fur, which is pale to reddish brown on the dorsal surface and light grey on the ventral surface. Juveniles are light ashy-grey (2). The wings are short, relatively broad and light brown to grey in colour. Partial albinism may occur, in which the wing tips are white (2). When threatened, hollow humming or chirping calls are produced; in flight this species does not make audible calls. Bechstein's bat produces 2 types of echolocation calls when flying; short FM signals between 80-38 kHz and flat, longer FM signals at 60-32 kHz (2).

Mainly found in old growth broadleaved woodland, Bechstein's bat tends to roost in trees, bat boxes and rock crevices throughout the year, and they may hibernate underground (4).

Patchily distributed throughout central Europe, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, southern Sweden and the Mediterranean region, but Bechstein's bat is rare throughout its range (2). In the UK it is restricted to southern England; important locations occur in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, the Isle of Wight, Somerset and Wiltshire (3). Recently a there have been a couple of recordings in Wales and several roosts were found in Surrey in 1997 (3).

The IUCN Red List classifies this species as Vulnerable (VU A2C). European populations are listed under Appendix II of The Bonn Convention (1), Appendix II of the Bern Convention, and Annex II and IV of the EC Habitats and Species Directive. In the UK it is protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations, 1994 (3).

This species is rare in the UK with only one maternity roost and fewer than 20 hibernation roosts known at present. The population is estimated to be in the region of 1500 (3). The threats currently facing this species are not understood but it is vulnerable to loss and fragmentation of open old-growth broadleaved woodlands and disturbance or loss of roost sites (3).