Serotine bat
Eptesicus serotinus
Status:
Like the Leisler’s bat the Serotine is an enigmatic native species with an unknown and probably under-recorded distribution in Snowdonia and indeed the rest of Wales. It has a predominately southern distribution in the UK with a stronghold in south-east England. Advances in the use of bat detectors will undoubtedly improve distribution knowledge.
The species has European Protected Species status in the UK and is threatened by loss of roost sites and foraging habitat.
UK nursery colonies are chiefly located in roof spaces of buildings, especially in those constructed around 1900 with a high gable end and cavities in walls. Roosts may be shared with other species such as Pipistrelles, long-eared bats and horseshoes. To date no roosts have been found Snowdonia but it has been recorded in flight using bat detectors.
The species emerges after sunset flying at tree top level with occasional swoops to the ground hawking for insects over pasture and shrubs, but also along roads with hedges and around street lights.
Females gather at nursery roosts in early summer (with colony size of between 15-30 individuals). Females give birth to a single baby in mid-late June and the nursery roost generally stays stable until the juveniles are weaned in August. Males in the summer may be found in the same building as the females or may roost alone or in small groups. The greatest recorded longevity for this species is 21 years.