Next month, Manx National Heritage will host a talk by Dr Kate McAney, a leading expert on the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
This rare and elusive bat species was discovered on the Isle of Man in 2019, confirming an earlier sighting over a decade earlier.
The species was not one of those previously known to be resident on the island, with the discovery bringing the total number of bat species recorded for the Isle of Man to nine.
Bat Talk
Historically the species had a wide distribution across the UK, but now the total population of about 15,000 individuals is confined to Wales and western England, with a further 12,000 in western Ireland.
About the size of a plum with their wings folded, Lesser Horseshoe Bats are one of the smallest bats in the UK, rheir average weight is an astonishing 4 – 9.5g.
They have a fleshy, horseshoe-shaped nose leaf which is related to its intricate echolocation system.
They use this high frequency echolocation call to detect prey, typically emerging 20 – 50 minutes after sunset.
Share Insights
Laura McCoy, Curator for Natural History at Manx National Heritage said: “During this evening talk, Dr Kate McAney will share her insights into the mysterious lives of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat, from roosting habits to conservation successes.
“We’ll also be offering the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at bat specimens from Manx National Heritage that help protect these amazing animals.”
Since joining the Vincent Wildlife Trust in 1991, Dr McAney has led winter and summer roost surveys of the species in six counties in the west of Ireland.
In 1998 the Trust bought its first Lesser Horseshoe Bat roost in County Galway and since then Kate has set up a total of 12 protected sites for the species in four counties.
The talk takes place on Monday, September 8 at iMuseum on Kingswood Grove, Douglas.
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