Horseshoe bats

Britain's population of some 6,600 greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) is restricted to south and west Wales and south-west England, although individual bats are still recorded as far away as Surrey and Leicestershire.

The lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is now restricted to Wales, the west midlands and south-west England, but in the early 1900s it was found as far north as Yorkshire and east along the south coast of England to Kent. The size of the British population at that time is unknown, but is certain to have been much higher than today’s estimate of about 18,000 individuals.

Of the two species, only the lesser horseshoe bat is found in Ireland where an estimated population of between 9,000 and 10,000 individuals is restricted to the mid-west and south-west of the country.

The Vincent Wildlife Trust has sought to conserve horseshoe bats through:

the establishment of reserves in both Britain and Ireland, one of which contains the largest breeding colony of greater horseshoe bats in Europe
monitoring the populations of horseshoe bats in key roosts
carrying out work to secure, maintain and improve both hibernation and summer roosts
major studies of the roosting and foraging ecology of both species
undertaking a major assessment of the foraging areas and commuting routes surrounding key greater and lesser horseshoe bat breeding roosts
surveys of buildings in south-west England, the west midlands, Wales and Ireland for undiscovered horseshoe bat roosts
a study of the effects of Ivermectin, a chemical cattle treatment, which reduces the number of insects in cow pat communities on which greater horseshoe bats are known to feed.

For more information please go to our publications page.