The bats
When darkness falls in Hapert, a resident appears that most people barely notice: the bat. Above gardens, in tree-lined lanes and over water, bats hunt for mosquitoes and moths. They are small, quiet and surprisingly useful. With the bat boxes hanging at several places in the village, we give these nightly neighbours a place to live.
Which species fly in Hapert?
The bat you are most likely to see here is the common pipistrelle. It weighs between 3.5 and 8 grams, is about the size of a thumb and has a wingspan of around 20 centimetres. It is the most common bat in the Netherlands: almost nine out of ten sightings concern this species. You can recognise it by its fast, fluttering flight full of turns and loops.
Nathusius’ pipistrelle also lives in Hapert. It is slightly larger and browner and flies in straighter lines, often along forest edges and open ground. Both species find their way in the dark using echolocation: they send out sound waves and hear from the echo where obstacles and prey are.
A home in the village
Bats used to spend the day in hollow trees, gaps in old walls and under roof tiles. Modern, well-insulated houses and the loss of old trees make those places scarcer. A bat box fills that gap. It offers a dry, sheltered resting place, safe from rain, wind and predators.
In summer the boxes take on an extra role. Some females use them as maternity roosts, where they give birth to and raise their young. One well-placed box can help an entire colony on its way.
The boxes we are installing are summer roosts, so they are not places where bats can hibernate during a harsh winter.
What bats give back
Giving bats a place pays off. A common pipistrelle eats hundreds to well over a thousand mosquitoes and other small insects in a single night. Bats also hunt insects that damage fruit trees and vegetable gardens, and some species eat the oak processionary moth. That is natural pest control, without poison.
Bats also tell us something about the state of our surroundings. Where they feel at home, there are enough insects, clean water and places to shelter. That is also good news for birds, hedgehogs and butterflies, and ultimately for ourselves.
The dark as an ally
Bats have sensitive eyes made for the night. Bright artificial light can cut off their routes: up to around 40 percent of bats turn back at a brightly lit zone, and on lit nights up to 60 percent fewer hunting calls are recorded. Even light only slightly brighter than a moonless night already has an effect.
The good thing is that the solution is simple. Switch off outdoor lights when you do not need them, point light downwards and choose warm, amber light instead of bluish white. A motion sensor does the rest. Together this creates a network of dark routes through the village where bats can fly and hunt undisturbed.
Everyone can take part!
You do not need to be an expert to help bats. A bat box two to three metres high, facing south or west, lasts for years. Native flowers and shrubs, one less paving tile or a small pond attract insects, and with them food for bats. Planning a renovation? Ask about bat bricks or built-in roosts, where bats can also hibernate.
The bat boxes are the first step of Nature Park Hapert (Natuurpark Hapert): a village where people and nature live side by side, with room for birds, butterflies, bats and other animals in gardens and public green spaces. Would you like to join in or learn more? Get in touch with us.