You are here:

News

Freezing forecast is brrr-illiant for bats

28th Oct 2011

Bats are doing well on our canals and rivers according to the results of British Waterways' annual Wildlife Survey. Today’s results show a 9 per cent increase in the numbers of bats seen, and while we may be dreading a forecast for a freezing winter, it is more good news for these elusive mammals which actually rely on the cold to survive.

Mark Robinson, British Waterways' national ecologist, explains: "Bats are a traditional star of Halloween and it's no coincidence that we think of them hiding out in cold, dark and undisturbed places. Bats need a consistently cold place of below five degrees to hibernate. This allows them to slow their metabolism right down, meaning these astonishing creatures take much less frequent breathes and survive on only a few heartbeats a minute.”

Hunting ground for bats

One of the biggest issues currently threatening UK wildlife is habitat fragmentation, the loss of broadleaf woodland and unimproved grassland, both ideal habitats for bats. Waterways are vital for bats because they provide safe, food-rich routes that link otherwise isolated ‘islands’ of woodland and pasture, all of which provide excellent hunting ground for bats.

Mark continues: "Canals and rivers are a bit like supermarket shopping aisles for bats and having spent the autumn using these corridors to travel and feed, bats should by now have stored up as much fat as they can, ready for the cold. Hibernating then allows them to save all this energy for the long winter months when there is little food about. Longer autumns and warm winters trick bats into thinking there's insects around and they use up valuable energy looking for them, thus risking potential starvation."

Anyone wanting to find out more about bats or to support our 17 native species can contact the Bat Conservation Trust who has more than 100 local groups working to conserve these fascinating creatures. www.bats.org.uk.

Last updated: 03/11/2011

We'd love to hear your comments on this article, but please ensure they meet our guidelines. We reserve the right to remove all or part of a comment before or after publication.