Bats in the UK

Bats in the UK: Britain’s Mysterious and Misunderstood Mammals

Learn about bats in the UK, including species, habitats, diet, behaviour, and legal protection. Discover why bats are important and how you can help protect them.

Bats are among the most fascinating yet misunderstood animals in the UK.

Often seen fluttering through the twilight on warm summer evenings, these nocturnal mammals play a vital role in British ecosystems.

Despite old myths and modern misconceptions, bats are harmless, highly protected, and essential to biodiversity.

In this article, we’ll explore bats in the UK, including the species you might see, where they live, what they eat, and why protecting them matters.

Bats are the UK's only flying mammals

Unlike squirrels that can glide, bats are the only mammals capable of true powered flight.

A bat's wings are actually modified hands

If you look closely at a bat skeleton, the wing is made from enormously elongated finger bones with a thin membrane stretched between them. In a sense, bats fly using their hands!

How Many Bat Species Are in the UK?

There are 18 species of bat in the UK, with 17 known to breed here regularly. All UK bats are insect-eating mammals and belong to the order Chiroptera.

Some of the most common UK bat species include:

• Common pipistrelle

• Soprano pipistrelle

• Brown long-eared bat

• Daubenton’s bat

• Noctule bat

Pipistrelles are the bats most people see in gardens and towns due to their adaptability and small size.

The Common Pipistrelle typically weighs just 4–8 grams—roughly the weight of a couple of sugar cubes. Despite this, it can fly at speeds of over 20 km/h.

The Daubenton's Bat is often called the "water bat." It flies low over rivers and ponds, using its large feet to snatch insects from the water's surface.

Where Do Bats Live in the UK?

Bats rely on a range of habitats throughout the year, using different roosts depending on the season.

Common bat roost sites include:

• Roof spaces and lofts

• Trees and tree cavities

• Old buildings and barns

• Bridges and tunnels

They also depend on surrounding habitats such as woodlands, hedgerows, rivers, and gardens for feeding.

Bats are found across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, though distribution varies by species.

Bats can live surprisingly long lives. For such small mammals, bats are, in fact, remarkably long-lived. For example, a Brandt's Bat in Europe was recorded living for over 40 years, making bats some of the longest-lived mammals relative to their size.

What Do UK Bats Eat?

All bats in the UK are insectivores. A single bat can eat thousands of insects in one night.

Their diet typically includes:

• Midges

• Mosquitoes

• Moths

• Beetles

• Flies

This makes bats natural insect controllers, benefiting both agriculture and home gardens.

How Do Bats Navigate at Night?

Bats use echolocation to find their way in complete darkness.

They emit high-frequency sounds that bounce off objects and return as echoes, allowing bats to build a detailed “sound map” of their surroundings.

Each species has its own echolocation call, which scientists can identify using bat detectors.

Different bats echolocate at different frequencies. For example, the Common Pipistrelle typically calls around 45 kHz, while the Soprano Pipistrelle calls closer to 55 kHz. Bat detectors can convert these ultrasonic sounds into noises humans can hear.

The Barbastelle Bat uses extremely quiet echolocation calls compared to other bats.

This helps it avoid detection by moths, many of which have evolved ears specifically to hear bat calls.

One UK bat can “hover” to pick prey off leaves

The Brown Long-eared Bat has unusually large ears and excellent manoeuvrability. It can hover almost like a hummingbird to pluck insects directly from foliage.

Bat Behaviour and Life Cycle

Bats are long-lived for their size, with some UK bats living over 30 years.

Seasonal behaviour

Spring: Bats emerge from hibernation and feed heavily

Summer: Maternity colonies form, and pups are born

Autumn: Mating season begins, and bats build fat reserves

Winter: Bats hibernate in cool, undisturbed locations

Most UK bats have only one pup per year, which makes populations slow to recover if numbers decline.

Some bats hibernate in underground "bat hotels". During winter, species such as the Daubenton's Bat and Natterer's Bat may hibernate in caves, mines, tunnels, and old cellars.

Their heart rate can drop from hundreds of beats per minute to just a few beats per minute to conserve energy.

Maternity and pups

Female bats often form maternity colonies where hundreds of mothers gather to give birth and raise their pups together. The warmth of the group helps the young grow more quickly.

The pup clings to its mother at first, but by about 3–6 weeks old it can usually fly and begin hunting insects on its own.

Bats have surprisingly small babies

A newborn Common Pipistrelle weighs less than 1 gram—about the weight of a paperclip. Yet within a few weeks it can fly and hunt independently.

Bats can "pause" pregnancy

Many UK bats mate in autumn, but the female doesn't become pregnant straight away.

She stores the sperm over winter and fertilisation occurs in spring when conditions are better for raising young.

Bats have excellent memories

Research shows bats can remember important feeding sites and roost locations for years. They build detailed mental maps of their surroundings and can return to the same places repeatedly.

Are Bats Dangerous to Humans?

No. Bats in the UK are not dangerous.

They do not attack people, do not get tangled in hair, and very rarely come into contact with humans.

Like all wild animals, bats should not be handled, but they pose no threat when left alone.

Are Bats Protected in the UK?

Yes. All bats and their roosts are legally protected under:

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

It is illegal to:

• Kill or injure bats

• Disturb bats in their roosts

• Damage or destroy a bat roost

Even disturbing a bat roost accidentally during building work can be an offence.

Why Are UK Bat Populations Under Threat?

Despite their protection, bat numbers declined significantly during the 20th century.

Major threats include:

• Loss of roost sites in buildings and trees

• Habitat destruction

• Use of pesticides reducing insect populations

• Light pollution disrupting feeding routes

Conservation efforts have helped stabilise some species, but many still remain vulnerable.

How You Can Help Bats in the UK

You don’t need to live in the countryside to support bats.

Simple actions include:

• Installing bat boxes

• Leaving garden areas wild

• Avoiding pesticides

• Reducing outdoor lighting

• Preserving old trees and hedgerows

Gardens can provide crucial feeding corridors, especially in urban areas.

Bats and Buildings: What Homeowners Should Know

If bats are found roosting in a building, they must not be disturbed.

Specialist advice should always be sought before carrying out renovations or repairs.

Living alongside bats is usually straightforward and rarely causes problems.

Final Thoughts: Why Bats Deserve Our Respect

Bats are remarkable animals — intelligent, long-lived, and vital to the health of the UK’s ecosystems. While often unseen, their impact is felt every night through natural insect control and balanced food chains.

By understanding bats rather than fearing them, we can help ensure these extraordinary mammals continue to thrive across the UK for generations to come.

Learn more about:

A day in the life of a bat

Britains rarest bat

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