The decline of the British bat population in recent years is another symptom of the general decline of Brtiish nature as a whole. So what has happened to Britain's bats?
The exact level of bat decline in the U.K is not known but in a survey conducted by the London Bat Group between 1978 and 1993 they estimated that the pipistrelle (which covers three of the 17 species) bat population had decreased by at least 70%. The reasons for this decline are a follows
Loss of habitat
Bat's natural habitat is dense woodland and hedgerow. They also like areas near still water such as ponds. As concentrated areas of these types have fallen across much of Britain in number so has the bat population. It has been estimated (using data from the Common Bird Census) that between 1968-1991 woodland decreased by 62% and farmland by 70% in the U.K.
Loss of food
Modern faring methods, the use of pesticides in particular have had a devastating effect on the number of insects in Britain. As all British bats are insectivores it has had a strong knock on effect on bat numbers.
Loss of roosting sites
Modern building techniques and building design have left no room for bats to roost and building work such as renovations can disturb and upset the balance of their natural behaviour. Hence churches and their belfries are still prime roosting sites for bats.
Light pollution
Bats are not blind. Their eyes have evolved to work in very low light conditions. Well lit urban areas and buildings are too dazzling for the bats eyes to function efficiently and under those conditions it becomes difficult hunt insects.
These reasons working in combination and isolation have lead to the steady decline of the bat population. In 1991 the Mouse Eared Bat was declared extinct. Today conservationists and bat enthusiasts are looking at different ways to help the bat's plight.
Measures To Halt Decline of Bats
Protection by law.
All species of bat in Britain are protected by law. These are.
Deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat
Intentionally or recklessly disturrb a bat in its roost or deliberately disturb a group of bats
Damage or destroy a bat roost
Possess or advertise/sell a bat (dead or alive) or any part of a bat
Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost
Moreover, DEFRA or the Department for Environment, Food and Affairs now uses bat numbers as an indicator of biodiversity.
Bat Conversation Trust
Bat Conservation Trust was set up in 1990 to help focus the concerns of many smaller bat societies. Amongst the numerous good works it does for bats, it also runs the national bat monitoring programme or NBMP.
Bat Boxes
Bat boxes are a great way to help out the population of bats but putting up a bat box is not as simple as putting up a bird box. Bats are very picky and suspicious and may take awhile to take to a roost. Due to the nature of their roosting habits two boxes close to each other is. This is so bats can move around as the temperature changes. Here's how to make a bat box.
It may also be beneficial to set up residential gardens so they are as bat friendly as possible. This can be done in a number of ways such as including a water feature (like a pond) or planting flowers that attract moths (bat's prey). Night flowering plants such as Evening Primrose and Foxglove are the most effective. With some small adjustments anyone can attract bats to their garden.
The best way to see bats in their natural habit is to go on a bat walk. These take place all over the country and often include food, drink and an expert guide. European Bat Weekend takes place on August 30-31st and this is a great opportunity to take a bat walk. This weekend takes place every year and is nationally organised. Different events take place all over the country. The Bat Conservation Trust has a list of all the European Bat Weekend events and where they are taking place.