Brown long eared hover in front of camera

[@werewolf4931]

Love those big ears.

[@TheBritishBat]

What camera did you use?

[@robertburns2200]

Hope you can give me some advice. About three years ago we could sit in our back garden and watch the bats flying around in the evening. Last year I saw one this year I have not seen any. Do bats move away or do they have set hunting ground. Will they ever come back. Can you give me an explanation on why they would disappear. Many thanks.

[@TheBritishBat]

They may have disappeared due to a predator in the area like a cat or they may have just moved for an unknown reason, hope this helps!

[@astridjordan4785]

Hi, I hope your bats have returned and keep you entertained again. I'm a bat surveyor in the UK and I am sad to say that bats are in sharp decline right now. Where they thrive in certain areas, the combination of destruction of habitat not only for the bats themselves but for the insects they are feeding on, the use of chemicals and particularly this last summer, the weather, have all contributed to bat numbers decreasing alarmingly. They do move roosts but often use the same ones if they're not disturbed but as they often roost in the roofs of buildings, repairs or rebuilding work will take that opportunity away. The same goes for tree roosting species who often need to move because of trees being culled or areas being developed.