TRACKS & SIGNS: Bats roost in a number of locations such as caves, mines, modern and old buildings, bridges, walls, tree holes and rock crevices. In many situations they leave evidence behind, most notably in the form of droppings. The droppings of all bats are small, similar in size to mouse droppings. Mouse droppings, however, are hard and difficult to crush, whereas those produced by bats crumble under slight pressure as they consist only of insect fragments. Droppings can occasionally be observed in large amounts under long-established roosts in attics, caves and under exit points on buildings. Droppings can often be observed stuck to windows or the walls of houses. In some instances, urine streaks can also be observed. There is some variation in dropping size and consistency - this may give an indication of the species:

Droppings of bats with those of the house mouse and the brown rat for comparison	A pile of bat droppings underneath the roost exit

Some species such as the brown long-eared bat and Natterer's bat use feeding perches on which to consume insects. These can be identified by the piles of droppings and intact wings of insects on the ground below. Heaps of long-eared bat droppings in attics do not often contain insect wings.

A bat roost behind some dislodged plaster on an outside wall	Herald & Underwing wings in a pile of brown long-eared bat droppings	A tree roost

A building occupied by whiskered bats	A hibernation site for Daubenton's bats
A roosting brown long-eared bat	The ceiling of an underground dungeon, worn smooth by roosting Daubenton's bats
A 'traditional' roosting site for bats	Urine stains on a window underneath a roost exit

© Jon Russ 2001. Text refereed by Angela Ross & Lynne Rendle.

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