A survey which involved tagging and radio tracking a group of greater horseshoe bats in Devon has revealed some interesting behaviours. The study conducted by the East Devon Area of Natural Beauty partnership followed 12 bats in the Branscombe area. Some male bats travelled as far as Sidmouth to feed.
The male bats travelled further than the female bats, possibly because the females were pregnant during the survey. Bats follow features such as hedgerows and tree lines to navigate, and take flies and moths on the wing.
The partnership is working to improve the hedgerows and other habitat corridors in order to provide a better quality of habitat for bats.
Greater Horseshoe bats are among the most highly protected of our British bat species. The main population of greater horseshoe bats is in the Southwest of England.
For the full story see the BBC website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8504000/8504927.stm
East Devon Area of Natural Beauty website
http://www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk/