Wildlife of Britain

The Greater Mouse-Eared Bat in Britain: Status, Ecology and Prospects The Greater Mouse-Eared Bat (Myotis myotis) is Britain’s rarest mammal and one of its most remarkable conservation stories.  Once thought lost from the country, it now survives — if only just — in tiny numbers.  While widespread and secure across much of continental Europe, its British presence sits on the very edge of viability. Taxonomy and Identification The Greater Mouse-Eared Bat belongs to the large Myotis genus, often referred to as “mouse-eared bats” because of their relatively broad ears and pointed tragus. It is one of Europe’s largest insectivorous bats. Key identification features: • Forearm length typically 57–67 mm • Wingspan around 35–45 cm • Pale pinkish face with large ears • Grey-brown upper fur, paler underparts • Powerful build compared to most British bats Its size distinguishes it from all other native British species. Historical and Current Status in Britain The species historically br...

A Day, or rather night(!) in the Life of a British Bat In the quiet folds of the British countryside, when church bells fade and streetlights hum to life, a small shadow stirs.  This is not the beginning of a day for most creatures — but for a bat in the UK, it’s morning. Let’s follow a common resident of towns, woodlands, and waterways: the Common pipistrelle . 7:00 PM — Waking in the Rafters As dusk gathers, warmth lingers in the tiles of an old house roof. Tucked between beams, our pipistrelle uncurls from her daytime roost.  She shares this snug crevice with dozens of others, forming a maternity colony through spring and summer. All day she has slept, wrapped in her wings like a living umbrella.  Now, she stretches, yawns, and listens.  Bats are not blind — but in the dim rafters, sight matters less than sound and scent. The colony begins to shuffle and squeak. One by one, they drop into the evening air. 9:00 PM — Supper on the Wing Outside, twilight is her hunti...

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 stretche...