Grey Long-Eared Bat: Britain's Rarest Bat

The grey long-eared bat is one of Britain's rarest mammals. This guide covers their welfare needs and the conservation challenges they face.

Key Facts

Grey long-eared bats are among the UK's rarest mammals with fewer than 1000 individuals
Confined almost exclusively to southern England and south Wales
They roost in old, traditional buildings requiring large accessible roof spaces
Their enormous ears enable them to detect large moths and beetles in flight
Loss of old-growth traditional buildings removes roost sites
Insect-rich habitats including pasture, woodland, and hedgerow are critical foraging areas

Welfare Considerations and Management

Grey long-eared bat welfare is critically dependent on a small number of maternity roost sites in traditional buildings (barns, churches) across southern England. Any disturbance to these roosts can have population-level impacts. Foraging habitat quality, particularly insect abundance, is affected by agricultural intensification and pesticide use. All bat species and their roosts are legally protected. Conservation requires protecting the small number of known roost sites and maintaining insect-rich foraging habitats.

What You Can Do

Support traditional building conservation that maintains bat roost habitats
Never disturb grey long-eared bat roost sites — report locations to Bat Conservation Trust
Advocate for insect-friendly farming practices in southern England
Commission specialist bat surveys before any building work near potential roost sites