Wildlife

Wild Bat Greater Horseshoe Conservation

Greater horseshoe bats are among the UK's rarest mammals, requiring strict roost protection and foraging habitat management for welfare.

Key Facts

Greater horseshoe bats are largely restricted to southwest England and Wales in the UK
They use echolocation frequencies specific to their nose leaf structure
Roost sites in old buildings and caves require year-round legal protection
Pastoral farmland with hedgerows provides essential foraging habitat within range of roosts

Welfare Considerations

Greater horseshoe bat populations are so small that individual roost disturbances have population-level welfare consequences. Legal protection of all roosts and maintenance of foraging connectivity between roosts and habitats are critical welfare and conservation priorities.

What You Can Do

Support Vincent Wildlife Trust and Bat Conservation Trust greater horseshoe programmes
Never disturb bat roosts in any building or cave
Advocate for pastoral farming support maintaining hedgerow foraging corridors