Bats

[aka pixi]

This may sound like a silly question but I need to ask it lol

Between spring and autumn we see a lot of bats flitting around in our garden. They come just as its getting dark (they probably come in winter too but Ive never noticed them)

I have told my granddaughter about them and she is really excited at the thought of seeing them. If we are inside it will be hard for her to spot them so I thought we could sit on the bench when the weather is warmer and wait for them to come.

What I need to know is will the bats still come into the garden if we are sat there quietly or will we scare them away? I dont want to sit there for ages and have her disappointed.

[lankeela]

They will take no notice of you, they will fly round catching insects and then go into their roosts.

[aka pixi]

Thanks lankeela. I was undecided about being there in case we scared them away forever lol

[lankeela]

On the contrary, if they are nesting in your roof or somewhere close, you will never get rid of them. Not allowed to either.

[fredpuli47]

Sit or stand quietly and still , at dusk is always best, and be ready for a surprise. As they fly by echo-location and are astonishingly precise they'll fly close by your head as they hunt moths. Your granddaughter is certain to be able to hear them locating by their squeaks ,too, because children and young women can still hear that high frequency sound.

At first they may prove quite difficult to see, but have her be patient because her eyes will gradually adjust.

And, indeed, they may be roosting or living in your house.They are tiny and easily fly through gaps under the eaves. A roofspace is cool and dark,and the construction inside provides convenient roosting perches, which they think ideal. (Not just the roof:we found some had taken to roosting in the open wardrobe of a back bedroom, where we'd left a top window open LOL.)What's more, the lights of the house attract moths, so they've a ready meal being delivered to their 'doorstep'! If they settle you're soon know. They can be surprisingly noisy, scrabbling about up there. They're protected , as Lankeela says.

[gallapunk]

I see loads of bats whilst sitting out in the summer months when it's dark. If you have any garden lights, turn some of them on because the insects will gather around the light and the bats will pick them off. They're lovely to watch.

[andrea81]

Not sure if I am right, but I think some bats hybernate???

also best time to see them is when its just getting dark, so the sky is stil a bit blue. We have a church yard near us and they come whether we're out in the garden or inside, they don't seem to worry about us there!

[fredpuli47]

British bats hibernate from October to April, according to the Bat Conservancy. :)

[burnhal]

British bats DO hibernate as per the above answer BUT they will appear occasionally on reasonably warm days in the winter to feed. Saw one in Ashridge Forest in Herts about half an hour before sunset on the weekend before Chistmas. Probably a Daubentons but can never be sure!

[aka pixi]

aww they arent anywhere too close lankeela. We live in the country and theres woods nearby, I think they come from there.

[aka pixi]

Thanks for that fred, wow after reading that I cant wait to go sit and wait for them.

I didnt realise they were protected, but I wouldnt have done them any harm anyway even if they were in the house.

Theres lots of old derelict stone farm houses around as well as the woods so maybe they are in them too.

[aka pixi]

hi gallapunk, I love watching them too. aww I wish I had known years ago that I wouldnt scare them off :(


you may be right about them hibernating andrea cos I've never seen them in the winter.

[Cetti]

pixi, get yourself a bat detector. Your little granddaughter would love to hear all the sounds they make and some detectors (very expensive) actually tell you the species.

I bought one in October, so I shall be out in the garden listening....as soon as husband has finished it putting it together!

[aka pixi]

oops I never saw the posts that bats do hibernate. I was answering in bits cos its friday night and my memory has gone astray lol

Hi burnhal, I havent seen you for ages. Hope you are well :) I just googled Daubentons but really can't tell if they are the same cos I only see them in the twilight lol They are about 4 or 5 inches across.

Im just googling now to see if I can find out what they are. Theres only 14 species so by this time next week I should have identified them lol

[aka pixi]

oh thats a lovely idea Cetti. Thanks for that :)

I have found some lovely sites googling, but the one Im on now says theres 17 different species :s

[aka pixi]

Hi IAP, I know what you mean about feeling honoured to see the bats, I always think its special when I see them.

The place in California sounds brilliant and I would really love to see that but unfortunately I am scared of flying so unless theres ever a bridge built between here and the US I have no chance :(

[persianlady]

We get them all the time in summer. Leave the outside light s on,as they attract the insects that they feed on. they do seem to fly really close to you, but dont worry, they will not touch you.

[aka pixi]

thanks persianlady, to be honest I wouldnt be bothered if they landed on me, they are lovely little things. I may have to convince my granddaughter of that though cos she told me my teenage son (in an evil laugh kinda way) that her the bats will get her, suck her blood and get stuck in her hair....gawd kids can be soooo evil :(