In the UK, bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. Bats are still under threat from building and development work that affects roosts, loss of habitat, the severing of commuting routes by roads and threats in the home including cat attacks, flypaper and some chemical treatments of building materials. Other potential threats can include wind turbines and lighting if they are sited on key bat habitat on near roosts.

The Red List for British Mammals shows that 4 of the 11 British mammal species that are red listed as being at imminent risk of national extinction are bats . Two more British bat species are near threatened. Bats represent more than a quarter of British mammal species and around 1/5 of global mammal species.