North East Wildlife Trusts - Urban wildlife! Bats in a Gateshead back garden

These common pipistrelle bats were discovered living under a wooden facia board near Gateshead. In the first shot you can see a bat emerging from underneath the facia as it sets off to forage for insects (pipistrelle bats can eat 3000 midges every night). The next part of the film shows the bats flying around in the back garden catching midges. Bats aren't blind, they can see with their eyes but also use echo location (a bit like having an internal radar) to find and catch insects. You can see the camera on the far wall that gets the close up shots of the bats emerging from behind the facia on the top right hand side of the screen. The next sequence shows the bats landing on the wall and crawling back up into their roost.

Contrary to popular belief, bats do not land in or nest in your hair. In fact they pose no threat to humans at all, even their droppings are non toxic. Houses provide good opportunities for bats to make a home and all British bats are protected by law so if you find some in your house and you want advice please contact the National Bat Helpline on 0845 1300228.

The film was tkane as part of the North East Wildlife Trusts WuildPlaces project raising awareness of urban wildlife. IF you like this film there are lots more like it, including badgers, foxes and otters at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WildPlacesNE

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Bats in Gateshead
• urban wildlife