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| Bats | Chiroptera |
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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. 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 of insect fragments. Droppings can occasionally
be observed in large numbers 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, which may
give an indication of the species:
| Variation between species' droppings* | |
| Daubenton's bat | Particle size is fine and dropping have a smooth outline. Droppings are about 2mm in diameter and 8-9mm in length. |
| Natterer's bat | Particle size is medium, diameter is about 2.3-3.3mm and length is about 8-11mm. |
| Whiskered bat | Medium particle size, length is about 6-9mm and dropping diameter is about 2.0-2.3mm |
| Leisler's bat | Dropping are about 2.5-3.0mm in diameter and about 6-9mm in length. The particle size is medium. |
| Nathusius' pipistrelle | Particle size fine, diameter 1.5-2.0mm and length 7-9mm. Smooth outline. |
| Common pipistrelle | Particle size fine, diameter 1.5-2.0mm and length 7-9mm. Smooth outline. |
| Soprano pipistrelle | Particle size fine, diameter 1.5-2.0mm and length 7-9mm. Smooth outline. |
| Brown long-eared bat | Particle size medium-coarse. Diameter 2.5-3.0mm and length 8-10mm. Knobbly outline. |
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Droppings
of bats with those of the house mouse and the brown rat for comparison
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A
pile of bat droppings underneath the roost exit
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Some species such as the brown long-eared bat and Natterer's bat use feeding perches to consume insects and these can be identified by the piles of droppings and intact wings of insects. Heaps of long-eared bat droppings in attics do not often contain insect wings.
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A
bat roost behind some dislodged plaster on an outside wall
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Herald
& Underwing wings in a pile of brown long-eared bat droppings
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A
tree roost
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A
building occupied by whiskered bats
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A
hibernation site for Daubenton's bats
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A
roosting brown long-eared bat
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The
ceiling of an underground dungeon, worn smooth by roosting Daubenton's
bats
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A
'traditional' roosting site for bats
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Urine
stains on a window underneath a roost exit
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© Jon Russ 2001. Text refereed by Angela Ross & Lynne Rendle.
Use of the panda device courtesy of WWF-UK © 1986 WWF, ® Registered trademark owner. Reg charity 1081247
