Up to 19 years
Length: 5.8 - 8.0cm; Wingspan: 32 - 38cm; Weight: 15 -35g
Native and listed as Vulnerable on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. European Protected Species under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive. Only occur in the southern half of the UK.
The serotine bat is one of the UKs largest bat species, and one of the first to appear in the evening. It mainly hunts within 2km of the roost but may forage up to 6km. It flies at treetop height and around lamp posts. These bats live in open woodland, hedgerows, parkland and can also be found around towns and villages. Serotine bats use echolocation to hunt for flies, moths and chafer beetles. Having caught a beetle, the serotine bat will fly around slowly chewing its prey and dropping the wing cases and legs. These bats have dark brown fur from above and a yellow-ish brown belly. Face and ears are black and their ears are large and pointed. These bats hibernate in winter, sheltering in old buildings.
Can be surveyed all-year-round: Most active from April to October. Breeding season is in autumn and the females begin to form maternity colonies in old buildings/churches the following May. Droppings found within roosts can be analysed outside of active periods.
