Greater Horseshoe Bat Conservation in Britain

Greater horseshoe bats are among Britain's rarest mammals, confined to southwest England and Wales with highly specific roosting and foraging requirements.

Key Facts

Approximately 6,500 greater horseshoe bats remain in Britain in a small number of colonies
They require warm, undisturbed maternity roosts in old buildings and winter in underground sites
Foraging habitat must include traditional pastoral farmland with large dung beetles as prey
Flight routes between roosts and foraging areas must be unlit and connected by hedgerows
Colonies declined by 98% during the 20th century but have partially stabilised following protection

Welfare Considerations

Greater horseshoe bat welfare is supported by a combination of roost protection, foraging habitat management and landscape connectivity. Maternity colonies disrupted during the June to August pup-rearing period cause pup abandonment with consequent suffering and death. Foraging habitat degradation reduces dung beetle prey availability, forcing bats to travel further and expend more energy per calorie obtained. The lighting of flight routes between roosts and feeding areas disrupts the darkness-dependent movement of these bats. Integrated conservation combining all three elements provides the welfare conditions these animals need.

What You Can Do

Support greater horseshoe bat conservation organisations protecting known colonies
Advocate for Traditional Farm Buildings grant schemes enabling sympathetic restoration of roost sites
Avoid lighting in known greater horseshoe bat flight corridors
Support traditional pastoral farming in southwest England maintaining dung beetle prey populations