These bats are predominantly woodland bats and prefer mixed type woodland but they are also found to occupy gardens, parks and pinewoods. They will leave the nest after nightfall, being agile flyers they will catch and eat moths, beetles and mosquitoes, either from in flight or off the ground.
- 4.3 to 5cm body length
- 25 – 30cm wingspan
- 7 – 12 grams in weight
- Long, broad ears
- Pink nose
Latin name: Myotis bechsteinii
In the garden
They will roost in tree holes and bat boxes during the summer months and in winter they will roost in tunnels, tree holes and even cellars. Mating is from autumn to spring and they will use ‘nursery’ roosts at the end of May, with female Bechstein’s bats giving birth at the end of June and the baby bats leaving the nursery by the end of August.
Interesting Facts
- These bats are listed at vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Cover photo: ‘Myotis bechsteinii’ by Gilles San Martin is licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0)