Bats in Bedfordshire

Created 2009

“Bats are the least known of our native mammals, because their nocturnal habits and secluded daytime retreats make observation very difficult. Of the fourteen British species, only six have been recorded in Bedfordshire, though no doubt others occur”. Ray Palmer, 1949 The Wild Mammals of Bedfordshire (Beds.Mag.)

“There are no major shortages in Bedfordshire compared to adjacent counties, although it is possible that we could have got a few records of four bat species – Whiskered, Brandt’s, Leisler’s and Serotine”. David Anderson, BNHS mammal recorder 1986 and founder member of the Bedfordshire Bat Group 1971 Mammals in Bedfordshire 1946-1971 (Beds.Nat.)

By 2008 there were records of 12 species of bats in Bedfordshire, and it was nice to be able to show that David’s prediction was accurate. The advent of bat detectors has been a major factor in this increase in numbers, though they are not the solution to every conundrum

By 2011 we had found the following bats in Bedfordshire:
Click on the links for more information

Myotis Bats
Brandt’s Bat