Brown Long-Eared Bat

Background

As the name suggests, the distinguishable feature of the Brown Long-Eared Bat is their large ears. The ears can grow up to three-quarters of the length of the bat’s body. These bats are slow flying in comparison to other British bat species, despite their large wing span.

Habitat

The Brown Long-Eared Bat lives Europe wide and can be found in and near forests. Given a suitable range of prey and little disturbance, these bats can also be found in trees near parks and isolated buildings. During winter they hibernate and retreat into caves, buildings or even within trees.

Diet

Brown Long-Eared bats eat insects, such as beetles, flies and moths.

Predators & Threats

Their flights often take place close to the ground making them susceptible to attacks from terrestrial based animals, such as cats. In addition to this, they are always vulnerable to predation from large birds such as owls and kestrels.

Facts

• At present, there are an approximated 245,000 individuals of this species.
• They tuck their ears underneath the wings when resting.

Best Time to Look

All year round.