Bats are marvellous mammals, not monsters

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Bats are one of the world's most misunderstood and maligned animals. Dracula author Bram Stoker has a lot to answer for in creating the false impression that bats are blood-sucking monsters like Count Dracula. In fact, only two out of the world's 1000+ species are vampire bats. 1000+ species of bat. Bat species make up around 20 per cent of all mammal species.

They are the only mammals capable of true flight and are important pollinators and a significant form of insect control. Unfortunately, bat populations around the world are in decline due to habitat loss, disease, reduced food supply, roost destruction and hunting and predation.

Here in New Zealand we have only two bat species, or pekapeka, and they represent all of our native land mammals – the lesser short-tailed bat and the long-tailed bat. A third species, the greater short-tailed bat, is thought to be extinct. 

The long-tailed bat is the more 'common' species and is widely distributed throughout the mainland, Stewart Island, Little Barrier and Great Barrier islands and Kapiti Island.

**READ MORE:

* [Bats 'boiled alive' in Sydney heatwave

*](https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/100458344/it-was-so-hot-in-sydney-australia-that-hundreds-of-bats-were-boiled-alive) Ancient discovery pushes back New Zealand bat history

* New Zealand's ancient penguin was as big as a human**

Marlborough's local population is found at Pelorus Bridge, although they used to be found throughout the region. Forest and Bird is working hard with a trapping programme to improve their chances of survival. These tiny mammals (8g-10g) are aerial insectivores, catching small moths, midges, mosquitoes and beetles. They can fly at speeds of up to 60kmh and have a very large home range (up to 100km2). They only produce one offspring per year, called a pup. 

The short-tailed bat is an endangered ancient species unique to New Zealand and can be found only at a few scattered sites. It is divided into three subspecies, none of which is found in the Marlborough region. Short-tailed bats are slightly larger than long-tailed bats, weighing around 12g-15g. They have large pointed ears and a 'free tail', which has no membranes connecting it to the wings. 

Unlike most bats, which catch their prey in the air, the short-tailed bat has adapted to ground hunting. It is one of the few bats in the world which spends large amounts of time on the forest floor, using its folded wings as 'front limbs' for scrambling around.

The free tail makes it easier for the short-tailed bat to walk on the ground that it is for other bat species where the wing membrane attaches to the tail. Short-tailed bats are found in indigenous forests where they roost, singly or communally, in hollow trees. Thought to be a lek breeder, the male bats compete for traditional 'singing' posts and 'sing' to attract a female.

Both our bat species are threatened by introduced mammalian predators. In areas without active and widespread pest control their future is bleak. In addition, logging and particularly selective removal of old growth trees, limits their roosting and breeding sites and is also a major threat.

In Marlborough you can actively help our bats by becoming a volunteer at the Pelorus Bridge/Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project – Contact Jenny for more information on jennym.easton@gmail.com.