As bats have come under some strain recently and are now declining in numbers, what can we do as individuals to help them? I know that most of the deline is due to urbanisation but there is not a lot I can do about that, so what can I do?

I have thought about trying to put some "bat" food up in the garden but I have my doubts that that would do anything! Would this help? Or is there something else I could do?

Putting up bat boxes would be the first thing I would try.  I don't know if bat boxes are commercially available in the UK, but they can be found here in the US at the local wild bird food stores already made, and plans can be found here.

I love bats!  I am a member of Bat Conservation International, and have been for over 5 or 6 years, perhaps longer.

Kingfisher

This post was last modified: 26-04-2007 09:49 AM by Kingfisher.

Hi

Have a look at this web page: http://www.bats.org.uk/kids/kids_makediff.asp

and this one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wild...t.shtml?15

This post was last modified: 26-04-2007 12:21 PM by wild canon.

Yes, bats aren't the kind of things you can just put food down for as they are very fond of their roosts. The best thing you can do as kingfisher suggested is to put a box up and hope that some bats will take up roost there in time.

Im not too fond of bats (or rats with wings) but I hate to see any species endangered. Bats are so helpful with pollination as well.
One of the main causes of bats in britain becoming endangered are the insecticides used in farms and gardens, so go easy if any of you use them.

I've only heard of tropical bats being useful in pollination, but I could be wrong on that.

Its a bit harsh to call bats "rats with wings"! Pidegons maybe, but not bats

Skippy & I went on a bat walk seeing Daubenton's bats amongst a few others. Never again I got eaten alive by the mozzies... but I like the bats.

What does being part of the Bat Conservation International involve? Because I may be interested in joining.

Thanks for the links Wild Canon, there is some good information on them. I'm going to put up a bat box, and also plant some more colorful flowers which should help to bring in more wildlife on the whole, including the insects which bats feed on.

Here's one ... how not to help bats, see the link to Pease Pottage, West Sussex last week:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/6618737.stm

This post was last modified: 07-05-2007 11:37 AM by tibbar.

That is definitely of how NOT to help bats, although luckily it seems tere were no bats inside at the time.