The Night the Bats Came Downstairs

We visit a family home in the Usk Valley to investigate Wales’s first documented Leisler’s bat maternity roost. The species is rarely seen, and records in Wales are scattered, with much of the available information coming from acoustic surveys that can be difficult to interpret. The discovery offers an opportunity to learn more about a bat that remains poorly understood in Britain. We hear how Lucy and Andy discovered bats in their attic after moving into an old converted farm building. During a heatwave, young bats came down into the house, prompting the owners to seek advice from the Bat Conservation Trust and local wildlife carers. Ecologist Carys initially expected to find a more familiar species, but a closer look revealed a large Leisler’s roost alongside brown long-eared bats. We discuss what is known about Leisler’s distribution, roosting and movement. The species is recorded in parts of Wales, but there are no previous records of a maternity colony in the area. Leisler’s bats use different roost spaces, including trees and buildings, and may shift location according to temperature and other conditions. The colony’s size and the surrounding habitat make the finding notable. We also follow efforts to care for grounded pups and reunite them with their mothers. When reunification was unsuccessful, one pup went into care and is being raised with another Leisler’s pup before a planned soft release. The episode highlights how bat carers, local wildlife organisations, experts and roost owners can contribute to finding and documenting bat colonies. Lucy and Andy describe their plans to live alongside the bats and make the house safer for young that wander into the living space. Severn Wildlife Rescue assisted with the care for one of the pups mentioned in this episode. Take a look at their website and if you can, make a donation here. Support the show Please leave us a review or star rating if your podcast app allows it because it helps us to reach a wider audience so that we can spread the word about how great bats are. How to write a podcast review (and why you should). Got a story to share with us? Please get in touch via [email protected] Bats are magical but misunderstood. At BCT our vision is a world rich in wildlife where bats and people thrive together. Action to protect & conserve bats is having a positive impact on bat populations in the UK. We would not be able to continue our work to protect bats & their habitats without your contribution so if you can please donate. We need your support now more than ever: www.bats.org.uk/donate  Thank you!