Bats are some of Britain’s most fascinating mammals, yet sadly, their numbers are declining.
Loss of habitat and a decline in food availability are probably the principle causes of their decreasing numbers, due to the effects of human activity. The felling of old trees, the in-filling of cavities in buildings and the stopping-up of caves and mine shafts have drastically reduced the availability of roosting sites for bats.
Food shortage is a problem too, partly due to the widespread use of pesticides, which kill off many of the insects that form the bats’ diet, and also the destruction of insect habitat. Avoiding the use of pesticides in gardening can help provide the bats with food, and the correct construction and siting of batboxes can help to provide important roosting sites for Britain’s only winged mammals.