Wildlife

Grey Long-Eared Bat: Englands Rarest Mammal

The grey long-eared bat may be Englands rarest mammal with fewer than 1,000 individuals restricted to the south coast.

Key Facts

Grey long-eared bats may number fewer than 1,000 individuals in England making them extremely rare
They are confined to coastal areas of southern England mainly in Dorset and Devon
Grey long-eared bats hunt large moths by gleaning them from vegetation
Their ears are nearly as long as their body and are folded under wings when roosting
They roost in old buildings particularly farm buildings and churches

Welfare Considerations

Grey long-eared bats face extreme vulnerability from any loss of roost sites as the population is so small. Building renovation or demolition of old farm buildings can eliminate entire maternity colonies. Climate change may alter moth phenology affecting prey availability. Light pollution disrupts hunting behaviour. Any incidental mortality such as from cats or wind turbines has proportionally greater impact given the tiny population size.

What You Can Do

Support Bat Conservation Trust grey long-eared bat survey and monitoring programmes
Protect old farm buildings and churches in grey long-eared bat areas from unnecessary development
Report any sightings of grey long-eared bats to the Bat Conservation Trust
Advocate for bat-sensitive planning decisions in southern England coastal areas
Minimise light pollution near known grey long-eared bat roost sites