Don’t let common misconceptions about bats put you off. Bats are a fascinating species, so before you decide they have to go, read through this article.
How to identify a bat
Bats are found throughout the world, with 17 species of bat living in the UK alone.
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Size
UK bat species can vary in body size from 3.5 centimetres to 7.5 centimetres in length and weigh between 5-40 grams.
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Colour
Their fur colour varies from brown and black (usually paler underneath) to a pale orange, depending on the species.
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Tail
They generally either have no tail or an extremely short one – an exception is the mouse-tailed bat which has a tail nearly as long as its body.
Bat habits
Nearly all bats are nocturnal. Their eyesight is designed for low levels of light and to get around in the dark they rely on a form of sonar known as echolocation for navigating and finding prey.
What do bats eat?
All British bat species (and 70 percent of the world's bats) eat insects.
What attracts bats?
Bats, like most animals, like areas abundant in food, warmth, shelter and free from predators. They prefer to roost in dark, quiet, enclosed spaces where they're least likely to be disturbed by enemies or bad weather.
The natural habitats of bats are trees, caves and other secluded areas – this is why your barn, shed or attic can be so attractive to them.
Where do bats live?
Outdoors, bats will feed over water, along woodland edges and in gardens. They can be found in:
- Cities
- Farmland
- Trees
- River valleys
- Grasslands
Indoors, you can find them in lofts and roof spaces. They can also be found under tiles, in beams and hanging from roofing timbers.
Bat babies
Female bats usually have only one baby a year. Like all mammals, bats give birth to live young. They are born with fur and some will have their eyes open immediately after birth – those that don't usually open their eyes within two weeks. The young are generally weaned within four months.
Are bats harmful?
The risk of catching the rabies virus from a bat is extremely low. In the UK only six bats have been found with the rabies virus called European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV). This type of rabies is genetically distinct from the classic rabies carried by foxes, dogs and cats.
Bat droppings don't present a health hazard to humans as they consist of the hard parts of insects that bats can't digest.
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