Bat flying on Christmas Eve! - why?

Phoebe · #1 (**permalink**) 27-12-2010, 06:36 PM

On my way out at 4:30pm and temperature of -5 there was a bat flying outside the house. It's not as if it was warm enough for any food to be about. Why would it be out in the freezing cold in winter?

Mark_b · #2 (**permalink**) 27-12-2010, 06:44 PM

Bats are currently in their winter roosts and with changing temperatures sometimes the roost conditions are no longer suitable (i.e. the bats may freeze) so they move to a different roost, this is said to be quite a common event.

Another possibility is that the bat was disturbed from its roost, someone moving stuff in their loft? and it fled the roost.

Just a few options: )

Phoebe · #3 (**permalink**) 27-12-2010, 06:50 PM

Thanks for the quick reply Mark. The bats are certainly not in my roof but I have new neighbours in the adjoining cottage. I don't know if the bats are in their roof but they always fly around the two cottages so may be they are in the neighbours roof. I hope they don't disturb the whole roost. I will keep looking out to see if I spot any more.