Wiltshire Mammal Group's Mammal of the Month…Pipistrelle Bats!
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Wiltshire Mammal Group’s Mammal of the Month…Pipistrelle Bats! Latin Name Common pipistrelle: Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano pipistrelle: Pipistrellus pygmaeus (A third UK species, Nathusius’ pipistrelle bat, favours wetlands, is nationally rare but in Wiltshire is regularly recorded in the Cotswold Water Park). Overview Average head and body length – 35-45mm Average forearm length – 30mm-35mm Average wingspan 200mm-235mm Average weight 3g-8g Common pipistrelle – Medium to dark brown. Face and around eyes usually dark in colour Soprano pipistrelle – Medium to dark brown. Face and around the eyes usually pink in colour. Echolocation: common 45-70kHZ Echolocation: Soprano 55-80kHZ Diet: small flies, aquatic midges and mosquitos one bat can eat up to 3,000 individual insects in one night. Pre-Breeding population: 2 million (1995) When and Where to see Pipistrelle bats Pipistrelle bats can be seen in many locations they are the UK’s most widespread species of bat. Common Pipistrelle bats are found in a wide range of habitats including; woodlands, hedgerows, grasslands, farmlands, suburban and urban areas. The Soprano Pipistrelle is also has a wide range of habitats however they are more specific to wetland habitats; ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, edges of woodlands, tree lines or hedgerows as well as suburban areas, gardens and parks. The best time to try and see Pipistrelle bats is between April and September at dusk when they can be seen leaving their roosts to forage. What to Look For They fly out of the roots around 20 minutes after sunset and they tend to fly from between 2-10m above ground level. Both species of Pipistrelle have a very fast, jerky and erratic flight pattern. However, they will circle around one area. The areas they tend to circle are open clearings in order to catch as many insects as possible. Pipistrelle bats roost in building cracks in stonework, trees and bat boxes throughout the winter and summer. Both spices can be found in mixed sex colonies from November to March. Males occupy a territory all year round however they have to defined their territories during mating seasons they do this by using specific calls and musk scents. Impacts on the Species In past 30 years there has been a decline in Pipistrelle populations, one of the main causes for this is modern agricultural practices, including the use of pesticides that are having an impact on the food and foraging areas of bat populations. Their roosting sites are typically in buildings, particularly houses and it is here where they may be most at risk from chemical treatment of timber, as well as from building repairs and renovation which may inadvertently damage or destroy roosting sites for the bats. What is being done? In the UK all bats are protected by domestic and international legislation; in England and Wales are primarily; the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), and the Conservation of habitats and Species Regulations (2010). Under this legislation all bats are legally protected from capturing, killing or injuring. As importantly, their roosting sites are also protected from obstruction, damage or destruction as well as disturbing bats using their roosts. Consequently, all bat workers require a licence issued by the SNCO to disturb or handle any bats within the UK. The public are also be encourages to help the Pipistrelle bat populations by making their gardens more bat friendly. This can be done by putting bat boxes into their gardens and also planting night- flowering plants this will attract invertebrates for the bats to feed on. More Information http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/index.htm http://www.bats.org.uk/data/files/Species_Info_sheets/sopranopipistrelle_11.02.13.pdf http://www.bats.org.uk/data/files/Species_Info_sheets/commonpipistrelle_11.02.13.pdf http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-soprano_pipistrelle-823.html http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/-common_pipistrelle-821.html http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/bats_and_the_law.html House-holders requiring information or support about bats occupying homes should contact the Bat Conservation Trust’s Bat Line, a free-of-charge helpline on 0845 1300 228 .