The first
thing to say about Bats is that they are protected by Law, you are not allowed
to disturb or
interfere with them in any way.
Unless you
hold a special licence the only time you are allowed is if you find an injured
Bat and then
only to to take it to a vet or rescue centre or a licensed Bat person for
treatment.
The
Bat year
Jan: Hibernating,
using up fat reserves. Feb: Still hibernating, few fat reserves left.
March:
Some activity,
occasional bat seen feeding. April: Awake and feeding at night.
May: Females
looking for nursery sites. June: Young born, usually one.
July:
Young still
suckling. August: Young start catching insects, females leave nursery
to find males.
Sep: Mating
season begins, start building fat reserves for hibernation. Oct: Serch
for hibernation site.
Nov: Hibernation
begins although still some activity in warm weather. Dec: Hibernating.
Bats
of the UK
Endangered
or rare in Red - Vunerable
in Yellow - Not
threatened in Black
Greater
& Lesser Horseshoe, - Bechstein's, - Greater Mouse-eared (extint).
Barbastelle,
- Grey long-eared, - Nathusius's Pipistrelle.
Brandt's,
- Whiskered, - Natterer's, - Serotine, - Noctule, - Leisler's.
Daubenton's,
- Pipistrelle, pipistrellus, - Pipistrelle, pygmaeus, - Brown long-eared.
Did you know
that a single Bat will eat at least 3000 insects a night, so if you love your
garden plants, flowers, fruit, to help prevent them from being eaten by insects
protect the Bat in your garden and build
a Bat Box.
In America
the Bat is very well catered for, for the above reason, to protect there vast
crops from being eaten.
There is a vast array of types of box to make, the two main types are the
UK style and USA style boxes.
The UK style box is a bit tricky to make and has to be cleaned out in winter,
its mainly a summer roosting box.
The USA style box is very easy to make and does not need cleaning out, can
be made to any size required.
For UK style
boxes and Bat info go to:- www.bats.org.uk/batbox
For
USA style boxes and Bat info go to:-
www.batmanagement.com
There
are many other site's on this subject so I suggest that you search for bat
boxes with Google
If
you require any info please contact me
Return to Index