Maternity Roosts - Bat Conservation Trust

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The National Bat Helpline can answer your questions and concerns about bats and give you advice.

0345 1300 228

Normal opening hours:

Monday to Friday 9:30am to 4.30pm

There is also an Out of Hours Helpline which is run by volunteers between May - September and is for emergency calls only:

Weekdays 6pm to 10pm

Weekends and bank holidays 10am to 10pm

You can also email [email protected] - please note, we unfortunately do not have capacity to reply to questions which are already answered on our website.

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Bat roosts

• What is a roost?
• Maternity roosts
• Hibernation roosts

• Roosts in trees
• Roosts in buildings
• Underground roosts

1. About Bats
2. Where do bats live?
3. Bat roosts
4. Maternity roosts

Maternity roosts

When the weather gets warmer, usually in early summer, pregnant female bats gather together in warm, safe places to have their babies. These roosts are called maternity roosts. Some groups of bats return to the same site every year.

A bat’s pregnancy lasts between six and nine weeks. The length of the pregnancy depends on the species and can be influenced by weather, climate and availability of food. Bats usually give birth to a single baby (called a pup) each year. They keep their babies close and nurture them carefully. The young bats are suckled by their mothers for four to five weeks until they are old enough to fly. They then begin to venture out from the roost to forage for food.

Bats are very sensitive during the maternity season and may abandon their young if they are disturbed. As warm, dry indoor spaces like lofts are often ideal for maternity colonies, it’s very important to check for bats before carrying out any building or remedial work.

John Hooper

Next: Hibernation roosts

Where do bats live?

• Bat roosts
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National Bat Helpline0345 1300 228

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The Bat Conservation Trust (known as BCT) is a registered charity in England and Wales (1012361) and in Scotland (SC040116).

Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England No: 2712823. Registered office: Bat Conservation Trust, Studio 15 Cloisters House, Cloisters Business Centre, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BG. Vat Reg No: 877158773.

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