Long-Eared Bat Conservation and Roost Protection

Brown and grey long-eared bats are woodland specialists with specific roost and foraging requirements that make them sensitive to habitat change.

Key Facts

Long-eared bats have enormous ears relative to body size used for gleaning prey from vegetation surfaces
They roost in mature trees and old buildings requiring large cavities and beam crevices
Brown long-eared bats have declined by 74% since 1999 across Britain
They are highly faithful to roost sites, using the same locations for generations
Long-eared bats fly slowly through woodland, making them highly vulnerable to domestic cat predation

Welfare Considerations

Long-eared bat welfare is threatened by roost loss, woodland fragmentation and cat predation. Individual bats killed by cats suffer acute injury and are frequently not immediately fatal, requiring rescue and veterinary care. Roost loss through building renovation causes displacement of entire maternity colonies, preventing breeding. The slow-flying foraging behaviour of long-eared bats makes them uniquely vulnerable to predation compared to faster, more open-flying species. Keeping cats indoors at dusk during bat activity periods prevents a significant portion of bat mortality attributable to predation.

What You Can Do

Keep cats indoors from dusk to dawn during summer bat activity period to prevent predation
Provide bat boxes with appropriate entry hole sizes for long-eared bats if you have suitable woodland habitat
Report any building renovation to the relevant statutory nature conservation body for bat survey requirements
Support woodland management creating the continuous canopy long-eared bats require for foraging