Cornish Biodiversity Network - Supporting Wildlife Recording
The descriptive text, below the map, is from the Cornish Red Data Book (2009). The map on this web page depicts the organisms distribution and shows the records made pre-2000 and those made since.
Range & Status
Although declining in abundance it is found over most of Europe below 550 N but appears to be extending its range northwards in England and Wales (Arnold, 1993). The estimate for the British population is 15,000 (Harris et al ., 1995).
Regional Distribution
It appears to be less common in Cornwall than in the rest of southern Britain. No recent ' in-hand' records. Bat detector evidence of their presence from 3 1km squares (was two in the last RDB). These are in East Cornwall.
Habitat & Ecology
Hunts near trees, in parkland and pasture feeding on a wide range of insects but
particularly large beetles. Roosts in buildings, often in cavities, in both summer and winter and occasionally in trees.
Threats
See Introduction. Reliant on artificial structures, usually buildings, for roosting and therefore sensitive to building renovation. Land use changes resulting in fewer large insects would impact this bat.
Conservation
Extensive legal protection detailed in Introduction. Building renovations need particular care. Listed (long list) as a globally threatened/declining species (BSGR, 1995).
I.J. Bennallick, S. Board, C.N. French, P.A. Gainey, C. Neil, R. Parslow, A. Spalding and P.E. Tompsett. eds. 2009. Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 2nd Edition.Croceago Press.
The Cornish Red Data Book Project was led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Federation for Biological Recorders (CISFBR). The full text and species accounts (minus the maps) are available on the CISFBR website.