Wildlife

Wild Brown Long-Eared Bat Roost Welfare

Brown long-eared bats are specialist woodland hunters that use buildings extensively for roosts, with welfare dependent on roost protection and woodland management.

Key Facts

Brown long-eared bats are among the most common UK bat species but have declined significantly
They hunt moths by gleaning them directly from vegetation using acute hearing
Building roosts are critical maternity sites where females raise their pups
Brown long-eared bats fly slowly and are frequently killed by cats near roosts
Mature woodland with veteran trees provides essential foraging habitat

Welfare Considerations

Brown long-eared bats killed by cats near roosts suffer acute predation trauma. Maternity roosts destroyed during building renovation kill dependent pups. The loss of woodland foraging habitat reduces food availability, increasing foraging time and energy expenditure. Protecting both roost sites and adjacent woodland foraging habitat is necessary for individual bat welfare during the demanding summer breeding season.

What You Can Do

Keep cats indoors at night to prevent bat predation near roosts
Support ancient woodland protection and veteran tree retention
Register your property as bat-friendly and ensure building work does not disturb roosts