Bats

Scroll through photos to identify the different species of bats

People typically believe that bats hang upside down in caves, but that is not case.

Most bats roost by hanging from their feet in tree hollows or under bark during the day, and are active at night. In the winter months, these roosting sites offer protection and a place to go into torpor (similar to hibernation).

If you see a bat in their hollow, especially in winter, it is important not to disturb them as they may be in torpor due to low food supply. Disturbing them may cause stress, causing them to lose their fat reserves and can result in death. Bats roost together in colonies of varying sizes from 20 bats to hundreds.

Bats are an extremely important part of our ecosystem. They play a critical role through their ability to act as an environmentally friendly insect control. On an ideal summer’s night a bat can eat around half their body weight in insects.

Bats only have one breeding cycle per year and will give birth at different times of the year depending on the climate. However, it will usually occur in the summer when food supply is high. Bats will give birth to 1-2 offspring each year with a gestation period of 40 days – 6 months (dependent on species).

The biggest threat to all species of bats is the loss of roost sites in tree hollows and loss of feeding grounds by forestry activities, clearing or agriculture and housing.

For more information on bats, and to hear what noises they make, visit the Atlas of Living Australia