Get Involved
BCT's Count Bat Project aims to raise awareness about bats to a wider audience, and encourage more people to participate in bat conservation. Find out more by clicking on 'Get Involved'.
(Image: Tony Fox, Brumbats)
We need your help
"Bats are fascinating animals & a vital part of our wildlife, but to stop the decline in bat populations they need our help. You can make a big difference right now by supporting BCT."
Chris Packham, BCT President
The real stars of the night
Summer bat walks are a fantastic way for the whole family to experience bats. Visit our 'Events' section to find details of batty events taking place near you.
(Image: Neville Thompson)
White-nose Syndrome (WNS)
Over 1 million bats have died in the USA since Feb 2006 from WNS. BCT is working to develop best practice guidelines in the event that this catastrophic threat reaches the UK & Europe.
(Little brown bats, New York: Alan Hicks)
Train with BCT
BCT and local bat groups organise a wide range of training courses and programmes for both volunteers and professionals across the UK.
(Image: Jules Agate)
Did you know?
A single pipistrelle can eat 3,000 tiny insects in just one night - that's one-third of its body weight!
(Pipistrelle: Hugh Clark)
Under Threat
UK bats populations are under threat from a loss of natural habitat and a decline in insects for them to feed on.
(Brandt's bat: Hugh Clark)
Help us count bats
BCT has been counting UK bats through its National Bat Monitoring Programme for more than 10 years, with the help of more than 2,000 volunteers surveying over 3,000 sites.
(Image: Philip Briggs)
Leave a gift in your Will
Please remember bats and the Bat Conservation Trust by leaving a gift to BCT in your Will.
(Brown long-eared bat: Hugh Clark)
Did you know?
Bats are unique to the natural heritage as they are the only true flying mammal and are a crucial part of the UK 's delicately balanced biodiversity.
(Noctule: Hugh Clark)
Did you know?
Bats don't make nests - some roost in cracks & crevices in buildings, some hang up in roof spaces and caves, while others prefer hollow trees.
(Brown long-eared bats: John Haddow)
National Bat Helpline
The BCT Bat Helpline takes almost 10,000 calls a year, providing free information and advice to the public about bats.
(Pipistrelle: R J Brookes)
Put Britain’s bats on the map!
Look out for bats in the skies around your home and garden, and share your sightings on BCT’s Big Bat Map. Help us identify bat hotspots and share with others great places to see bats!
Did you know?
Bats are a sign of a healthy, diverse environment because they use all aspects of the landscape, from parks and gardens, pastures and hedgerows, to woodlands and wetlands.
(Brown long-eared bat: Hugh Clark)
Did you know?
Thanks to its amazing ears, the brown long eared bat has exceptionally sensitive hearing and can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf!
(Brown long-eared bat: Steve Parker)
Did you know?
Bats are not blind. They fly & hunt in the dark by using echolocation, listening to the echoes of their high frequency calls to build up a sonic map of their environment.
(Pipistrelle: Hugh Clark)
'Hand Wing'
Bats wings are supported by bones similar to those in our hands and arms with very elongated fingers.
(Semi-albino soprano pipistrelle wing:
Neville Thompson)
Did you know?
Bats are warm-blooded, have fur on their bodies and usually have only one baby (called a pup) each year.
(Noctule: R E Stebbings)
Did you know?
In winter, when insects are scarce, bats hibernate in cool parts of buildings, caves and hollow trees.
(Brandt's bats: Anita Glover)
Did you know?
British bats and their roosts are protected by law as their numbers have dramatically decreased during the past decades.
(Grey long-eared bat: Hugh Clark)
Become a Young Batworker!
You don't need to be a grown-up to do your bit for bats. Check out our Bats for Kids section to find out all the things you can do to help bats!
(Image: Joe Connelly)
Under Threat
Of the 18 species of bat in the UK, 2 are listed as 'Vulnerable' and 3 as 'Near Threatened'.
(Brown long-eared bat: Hugh Clark)
Support bats and 'see the difference'!
Check out the videos we've made about our work, share them with friends, and show your support with a donation - we promise to let you 'see the difference' you've made!
Bats - the real stars of the night
Bats are amazing animals, and an important part of our natural environment. There are 18 species of bat in the UK (17 of which are known to be breeding here), all of which are protected by law because their numbers have decreased so dramatically.
The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is working towards a world where bats and people live in harmony, to ensure they are around for future generations to enjoy. Your support will make a big difference to what we are able to achieve.
Explore the rest of our website and find out more about these fascinating animals...
Latest news:
Have a batty bank holiday weekend!
Take part in bat events near you for European Bat Weekend
Appeal for the Bat Helpline reaches half of it's £10,000 target
Thanks to the generous support of over 200 people the Bat Conservation Trust is half way to meeting the target needed to keep the Bat Helpline running
What are bats doing now: September
Mating occurs through the autumn and bats can often be seen “swarming” outside the roost. Bats will begin to store up fat to last them through the winter.