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Homes for bats
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Homes for bats

Illustration of pipistrelle bat

Bats are becoming increasingly rare in the UK, partly due to a loss of roost sites and a decline in insect-rich habitats. You can help these fascinating little mammals by making new roost sites for them.

Bats roost in a variety of places, including woodpecker holes, buildings, caves, mines and railway and canal tunnels. Old trees are often cut down or blown over by strong winds, buildings are often sprayed with deadly woodworm treatment, mine shafts filled in, caves and tunnels disturbed, and the bats are left without suitable roosts. Bat boxes can provide alternative roost sites for them.

These are some of the bats you are likely to encounter.

Noctules are the biggest bats in Britain. They have long, narrow wings, and a high and straight flightpath.

Daubenton's bats are medium-sized bats with a white underside. They often fly over water like tiny hovercrafts. They have big feet to scoop insects from the surface.

The pipistrelles are Britain's smallest species of bat, weighing the same as just 10 paperclips. They look much bigger in flight and have a very erratic flightpath. They are the commonest bats seen in gardens and the most likely to use bat boxes.

  • If you find a sick or ailing bat or would like more information or advice about bats, or a contact to your local bat group, please contact the Bat Conservation Trust by clicking on the link to the right.

Last modified: 18 October 2007

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What can I do?

Help conserve our native bat species - many of which are endangered and need habitats, including roosting places - by buying a bat box from our online shop.