Do Bats carry disease?
Only 9 bats have been found to be carrying the Rabies European Bat Lyssavirus (EBL2) in the last 20 years in the UK. We know this because a screening programme has been in
Do Bats carry disease?
Only 9 bats have been found to be carrying the Rabies European Bat Lyssavirus (EBL2) in the last 20 years in the UK. We know this because a screening programme has been in place for the last 20 years and has tested thousands of bats. All bats were of the Daubenton’s species. Humans very rarely encounter this species, as they tend to live in places such as bridges and culverts, preferring these to housing. They also feed when it is very dark, usually over a still water body such as a pond or reservoir. The rabies lyssavirus can only be contracted by a bite, scratch, or blood contact so if you don’t come directly into contact with the bat there is no risk. Only a tiny 4% of UK Daubentons’ bats are known to have come into contact with the disease. Some website refer to histoplasmosis however this s only found in tropical and sub-tropical climates and has never been found in UK bats, or their droppings.
Do bats drink blood?
No British bats drink blood. They all feed on insects. Throughout the world bats feed on a wide variety of foods, including insects, fruit, fish, frogs, nectar and there are three species out of about 1200 that drink blood. They inhabit the tropical and subtropical areas of central and South America.
Do Bats damage property?
The largest UK bat is the size of a small pear. The commonest UK bat, the Pipistrelle, has teeth which are not even strong enough to break our skin, if they bite us at all, so they don’t stand much chance of damaging wood and concrete. The only evidence you may see of bats in buildings is a few droppings, which are harmless. A bats main interest in life is feeding, sleeping and making baby bats, not damaging their homes. They are also not related to the rodents, so don’t have teeth that constantly grow. They don’t therefore need to gnaw!
What do bats eat?
All UK bats eat insects from midges and moths to spiders and even beetles. For example a single pipistrelle bat will eat on average 3000 midges per night during the summer. Overseas bats will eat all manner of foodstuffs from nectar and fruit to occasionally frogs fish and even other bats!
Where do bats live?
Bats should live in trees and caves, but humans have had the effect of reducing these places, so bats have had to find new places to live. Pipistrelle and Serotines often choose buildings like houses and factories to roost in. Others species prefer places such as bridges, barns, churches (porches and roofs, not the belfry, as the saying suggests!) mines, ice houses, cracks in cliffs, vaults, bunkers and deep basements, as well as old nest holes of birds, and, of course, bat boxes. Some bats may actually prefer these “new” roosts, although losing their natural roosts is one of the main problems in bat conservation.
Why are bats endangered?
Loss of natural roost sites such as trees, which are removed for development, and change of land use, and suitable trees (old ones with holes in) being cut down, for public safety reasons. Cave roosts are often visited by vandals and are used in recreational activities with little or no regard for bats living there; sometimes they are also blocked by landowners concerned about safety. Buildings that bats use are refurbished and modified, sometimes destroying the roost and it’s access points. Ignorance is one of the main factors. Bats are generally portrayed as vermin, and unfortunately some still believe this. Land use change from woodland to arable farmland and removal of hedgerows and loss of ponds all contribute to a decline in bat numbers. Fragmentation of the landscape, in this manner, also plays a part. Use of insecticides, pesticides and animal medicine lead to reduced numbers of the insects that bats eat. Climate change could also have a big effect; during a particularly long winter, some bats may not survive the hibernation as they use a lot of energy during this period. This energy needs to be built up in the preceding autumn, and again, if the weather has been poor during this time they may not have had the chance to build up the energy reserves necessary.
Female British bats usually only have one baby a year so if number reduce dramatically due to loss of summer roosts or poor climate conditions, it takes the bat population a longer time to recover than if they had three or four litters a year. More recent threats being investigated could include wind farms and White Nose Syndrome, although this latter has not yet been found in UK Bats. Artificial lighting can also impact on bats.
Are Bats protected?
Yes. All British bats are protected by the Conservation of Habitats and Species 2010 legislation and fall within the remit of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, as amended by the Countryside and Rights of 