What do they look like?
There are 16 species of bat to be found in Britain, but many of these are scarce or endangered. The most common type of bat in the UK is the Pipistrelle.

Pipistrelle bats measure up to 4.5 cm in length and weigh only 5 grams – about the equivalent of a 2p piece! They have a wing span of up to 25cm.

Their bodies are covered with fur – reddish brown on the back and yellowish brown on the underside. Their ears, nose and wing membranes are black/brown.

Where do they live?
Bats can be found just about anywhere, including woods and parkland, but prefer to roost in buildings and hollow trees during the summer months. They like dry, quiet places that are free from draughts and cobwebs. Because of this, they can frequently be found in modern buildings, especially those that are less than 25 years old.

In Winter, bats will find a cool place to hibernate, in buildings, caves or hollow trees. They hibernate between mid November and the beginning of April.

In Summer, bats may be seen flying form their roosting place before sunset in search of food, and may return within a couple of hours. They will often go out a second time during the night.

What do they eat?
Pipistrelle bats hunt for small moths, gnats and other small insects. It is possible for one bat to consume up to 3000 insects in one night.

Contrary to popular belief, bats do not bite humans for their blood. If a bat does bite it is usually in self defence because it has been handled or caught

Most of the UK’s bats have very small teeth and will be unable to break the skin. A bat that appears to be baring its teeth is actually “scanning” you, building up an image of its environment using a type of sonar, which is mostly inaudible to humans. It is this built in radar that also prevents the bat from flying straight at you, and getting tangled in your hair – another bat myth!

Pest or Nuisance
Bats do not pose a threat to public health, as human contact with them is very rare, even when they share the same buildings.

Because bats do not build nests, they leave very little or no damage to buildings, preferring instead to hang up or crawl into cracks and crevices.

They also help gardeners by eating a variety of garden insects and pests.

Perhaps the most significant nuisance value of bats is the fear of them flying straight at you. However, they are not, as is generally thought, blind. They use highly developed sonar to “see” in the dark by listening for the echoes of their high frequency calls. Therefore, they are well aware of your presence. They also have good steering and will not fly into you.



Control
(Contact Local Bat group)
All bats are protected species. It is illegal to harm bats in the UK, or to disturb their roosting or hibernating sites.

Our Pest Control Team CANNOT remove bats from your property.

For more information visit the website for The Bats Association of NI