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A graphic banner with two bats and the words "think you know your bats" on a bright orange background

© Dale Sutton/2020VISION

Ready to put your bat knowledge to the test? Take our fun quiz to see how much you know about these fascinating nocturnal creatures.

When you submit the quiz, you’ll get a free downloadable bat guide to learn even more!

Daubenton's Bat flying over water Daubenton's Bat © Dale Sutton/2020vision

1. How many species of bat are found in the UK?

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Correct! There are 18 species of bats with 17 of these species known to breed in the country - and approximately 10-12 species found here in Hertfordshire.  Did you know there are over 1,300 species of bat worldwide!  Bats are mammals and give birth to young that feed on their mother’s milk - they're also the only mammal capable of true flight!

2. Which is the smallest bat species found in the UK?

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Correct! Our smallest and most common bat, the Common Pipistrelle weighs just 3-8g - that's about the same as a 20p coin - and is so small it can fit into a matchbox! Look out for them darting about as they hunt for insects in gardens or around streetlights just after sunset. Find out more.

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3. What do bats in the UK eat?

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Correct! Sometimes referred to as the ‘Water Bat’, the Daubenton’s Bat forages for small flies, such as midges, cassidflies and mayflies, just above water; it can even use its feet and tail to scoop up insects from the water’s surface.  Find out more.

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Correct! All UK bats are insectivores – they eat moths, midges, mosquitoes and other insects, each species having their own favourites.  A tiny Pipistrelle can eat up to 3,000 insects per night!

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two bats hiding under a rooftile Common Pipistrelle Bats © Tom Marshall

4. Which bat is known for skimming over water to capture insects?

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Correct! Sometimes referred to as the ‘water bat’, the Daubenton’s Bat forages for small flies, such as midges, cassidflies and mayflies, just above water; it can even use its feet and tail to scoop up insects from the water’s surface.  Find out more.

5. How do bats navigate and hunt in the dark?

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Correct! Bats are not blind, but at night their ears are more important than their eyes.  They use echolocation, a system of locating things by sound, to find their way and catch their food in the dark. 

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a fluffy light brown bat hanging updide-down Natterer's Bat © Tom Marshall

6. When do most UK bats hibernate?

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Correct! Bats hibernate through the cold months of winter when insects are scarce.  They find somewhere free from disturbance, that is cool and humid - like a disused tunnel, cave, or tree cavity - and tuck themselves away.  Their heart rate and breathing slow down and their temperature drops to save energy.

7. Which of these bats is the largest species found in the UK?

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Correct!  Our largest bat, the Noctule, emerges early in the evening, just as it starts to get dark and can sometimes be seen flying in a straight-line overhead, with sudden swoops to catch an insect.  Find out more.

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