A batty question (ha ha)

[Miss Caretaker]

Occasionally we get bats flying around our garden and I was wondering how far they fly from their roost in order to find food. We had quite a few last summer and we've seen a few this year too. We live on one of the 60's/70's built London overspill estates in Basingstoke and I never thought I'd see a bat again when I moved here. Happy to have been proved wrong .
Jo

[bee warrior]

Based on my rudimentary knowledge 'how far from the roost' would depend on species, type of roost and habitat. If flying around a house it is likely to be pipistrelles. At this time of year females will have young and will try not to forage too far from the roost as they feed their young every couple of hours. I think females (at this time of year) prefer to forage within 2km of the maternity roost. Males will travel further although I am not sure they show any particular affinity to a roost at the moment-more a case of wherever the hunting is good and wherever they can lay their hats-so to speak.

[Miss Caretaker]

Rudimentary or not, it's more than I knew! At least I can assume that they are roosting somewhere within 2k of my house. Not much chance of following them home though to find out where!. Thanks for the info.
Jo