Nature Trail – Bats
OVERVIEW
Welcome to Citizen Zoo's Nature Trail! Keep searching around Kingston for more facts about our 12 species - our map can be accessed below. If you would like to support Citizen Zoo's Nature Trail and goal to Rewild Our Future, please consider making a donation today or becoming a member (there is further information on how to do this below).
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly – some other species can glide from tree to tree, but bats have their own aerobatic skills.
The majority of the world’s bats eat insects – just like our 18 bats found here in the UK. In the tropics bats also eat other food, including fruits, flowers, frogs, fish, blood, even other bats.
A tiny pipistrelle bat can consume up to 3,000 insects in a night. It is important to reduce light pollution, as they aren’t in fact blind and are very sensitive to light at night when hunting.
There are around 5,000 species of mammals in the world and almost 1,000 alone are bats!
Our most common British bat is also the smallest – the pipistrelle. It is just 4cm long and weighs around 5 grams, which is less than a £1 coin.
Bats don’t build nests but live in trees, caves, roofs or walls to avoid the light. Pipistrelle bats are often found in modern houses, while long-eared bats seem to prefer older houses with large loft spaces.
Most female bats can give birth to only one baby per year. In summer, they live together somewhere warm to have their young and stay there until they are able to fly.
Bats hang upside down when they sleep so that they can easily spread their wings before take-off.
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