Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Sunday 7th September 2008

Bat

The French describe bats as ‘mice with wings’, as they have a body the size of a mouse and wings.

Many bats are known as ‘long-eared bats’ as they have unusually long ears. Most bats in Britain have small bodies and short legs, narrow wings and a short tail. They are generally dark in colour and their body hair varies from being orange-brown to grey-brown.

Did you know?

  • There are around 17 species of bat in Britain;
  • Bats that are not found in Britain are known as tropical bats. They eat fruit, flowers, frogs, fish and even other bats! Bats in Britain just eat insects;
  • Bats are the only mammal that can fly;
  • Their teeth are so small that they can’t break human skin;
  • Bats hibernate every year from September to April.

Take part in British Waterways' 2008 National Wildlife Survey

Find out more about bats on WOW