Nottinghamshire Bat Rescue

Year in the Life of a Bat

Bats hibernate in winter using fat stores for fuel.

Hibernating - Fat reserves running low.

Signs of limited activity. Small numbers feeding at night.

Active and hungry but will retreat again if too cold.

Now fully active. Females in search of a suitable nursery site.

Young are born.

Mothers suckle their young.

Females desert old nursery and seek males.

Mating takes place. Bats build up fat stores for winter.

Mating continues and seeking hibernation sites.

Bats take longer naps and begin hibernation.

Too cold now so bats go into hibernation.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Leeds City Council.