doodlebat

Fact sheet · updated

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Night shift
over the garden.

Almost a quarter of the UK's mammal species are bats.

Found a bat?
A small bat in flight against a deep blue dusk sky above the dark outline of a garden hedge and trees
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

18 SPECIESall protected by law

They come out at dusk to hunt insects, roost in trees and buildings, and are protected by law. Here is what the Bat Conservation Trust, Natural England and JNCC say about living alongside them.

At a glance

18 species

Bat species found in the UK

The UK has 18 bat species, 17 of which are known to breed here. That is almost a quarter of the UK's mammal species.

SPECIES · BAT CONSERVATION TRUST

+55%

Change in the UK bat indicator, 1999 to 2023

JNCC's indicator, covering 11 of Great Britain's 17 breeding species, rose by 55 per cent between 1999 and 2023, after major declines before and during the 20th century.

POPULATIONS · JNCC

TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Many species,
some recovering.

One figure on how many kinds of bat live here,
one on how monitored populations have changed.

JNCC links the recovery to less disturbance after strict legal protection and a milder climate. The earlier declines were driven by persecution, farming intensification, loss of roosts and habitat, timber treatments and fewer insects to eat.

FOUND A BAT?

Does this bat
need help?

Pick what you have found. The bar shows how strongly the Bat Conservation Trust's advice points to containing the bat and getting help.

Wear gloves if you need to touch a bat, because of the small risk of rabies. The National Bat Helpline is 0345 1300 228, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.

Bat check

Choose what you found
A bat on the ground or floorNeeds help

A grounded bat needs help. Wearing gloves, contain it in a shoe box with holes in the lid and a soft cloth, then call the National Bat Helpline.

A bat a cat has caughtNeeds help

Any bat that has been in contact with a cat needs help, even if it looks fine. Contain it and call the helpline; do not release it without advice.

A baby bat on its ownNeeds help

Pups are found in June, July or early August and have little or no fur. A pup without its mother needs help, so contain it and call the helpline.

A bat in your living roomGet advice

A bat in the living area of a home is on the trust's list of bats that need help. Do not just let it go; call the helpline for advice first.

Bats in the loftLeave them be

A bat in a loft or outbuilding may simply be roosting, and roosts are protected. Call the helpline, which gives free advice on behalf of Natural England.

Source: Bat Conservation Trust advice on bats in need of rescue and on containing a bat; GOV.UK guidance on bat protection.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Small, protected
and worth helping.

Bats need little from us.
Mostly: dark, insects, and roosts left alone.

SPECIES

Tiny insect hunters

The common pipistrelle weighs about 5 grams, roughly a 20p coin, and a single one can eat thousands of tiny insects in one night.

See the numbers

THE LAW

Roosts are protected

In England it is unlawful to deliberately capture, injure or kill bats or damage their breeding or resting places. Roof and loft work can affect roosts.

What the law says

HELPING

Feed the night shift

Pale, night-scented flowers attract insects after dark. The Bat Conservation Trust also suggests a pond, a compost heap and no chemicals.

How to help
A small garden pond at dusk edged with pale flowers, a compost heap and a wooden bat box mounted on a fence behind
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

FOUR WAYS TO HELP

A garden that
works after dark.

The Bat Conservation Trust says gardens are playing a more important role in securing a future for bats. These ideas come from its gardening advice.

  1. Plant for night insects

    Choose pale, night-scented flowers and nectar-rich plants, and aim for something flowering from early spring to late autumn.

  2. Add some water

    Build a pond, or a small water feature if there is no room for one.

  3. Skip the chemicals

    Avoid bringing chemicals in, start a compost heap and leave a patch of grass uncut for insects.

  4. Offer a roost, keep cats in

    Put up a bat box or a bat access tile, and keep cats indoors at night, when bats are leaving their roosts.

BATS AND THE LAW

Ask first,
then build.

In England it is unlawful to deliberately capture, injure or kill bats, damage their breeding or resting places, or possess or transport live or dead bats. Penalties include up to 6 months in prison and an unlimited fine.

Repairing a roof or converting a loft can harm bats, but in many cases work can be planned around them. The National Bat Helpline gives free advice on behalf of Natural England and can arrange a volunteer roost visit.

The eaves of a brick house at dusk, with hanging roof tiles and a wooden soffit board where small bats can roost
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Questions

Questions people ask

How many kinds of bat live in the UK?

The Bat Conservation Trust says the UK has 18 bat species, 17 of which are known to breed here. That is almost a quarter of the UK's mammal species.

Are bats protected in the UK?

Yes. In England it is unlawful to deliberately capture, injure or kill bats or damage their breeding or resting places. Offences can lead to up to 6 months in prison and an unlimited fine.

What should I do if I find a bat on the ground?

Wearing gloves, contain it in a shoe box with holes in the lid, a soft cloth and a few drops of water in a milk bottle top. Keep it somewhere quiet and dark and call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228. Do not release it without advice.

Can bats carry rabies in the UK?

The Bat Conservation Trust says there is a small risk of rabies from bat bites and scratches in the UK, which is why it says to wear gloves. If you are bitten or scratched, seek immediate medical advice.

I have bats in my loft. Can I do building work?

Roof repairs and loft conversions can harm bats, but GOV.UK says work can often be planned around them, usually after a bat survey. The National Bat Helpline gives free advice on behalf of Natural England.

Sources

Where the facts come from

  1. Bat Conservation Trust: UK bats
  2. Bat Conservation Trust: Common pipistrelle
  3. Bat Conservation Trust: Bats in need of rescue
  4. Bat Conservation Trust: Containing a bat
  5. Bat Conservation Trust: Gardening for bats, providing bed and breakfast
  6. GOV.UK: Bats, protection, surveys and licences
  7. JNCC: UK Biodiversity Indicator, mammals of the wider countryside (bats)

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