Western barbastelle

Western barbastelle is a nocturnal species known for its secretive and cryptic behaviors. It typically nests in tree crevices and emerges at dusk to forage, relying primarily on flight-gleaning to catch prey. Western barbastelle is not social in its interactions, often preferring solitary behaviors. Notably, during winter, it undertakes a localized migration and occupies warmer regions for hibernation.

This species is rare and most of the time decreasing throughout its range. Some historical data from the 19th century refers to the presence of western barbastelles in Senegal. This data is considered as doubtful. Albania So far, only four specimens of this species were recorded in Albania. The specimens were caught in 2005 near the Shebenik-Jabllanicë National Park, close to the border with Northern Macedonia. This national park is well known for its beech forest, part of the UNESCO site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe". Belgium Barbastelle bats are known to occur within the Sonian Forest of Belgium. Ireland This species was reported in 1997 from the west coast of Ireland, based on echolocation calls. Recent surveys and researches assessed this data and concluded to a mis-identification of the echolocation calls, and the absence of this species from the island of Ireland. Montenegro The species is present during summer in both Mediterranean and Alpine biogeographic region of Montenegro, on altitudes as low as 80 m and up to 1.700 m a.s.l. Netherlands The barbastelle has been extinct in the Netherlands since 1984. Norway It was considered extirpated in Norway, having only been sighted in 1896, 1911, 1913 and 1949. However, it was again found in 2004 and 2008. United Kingdom In Britain, only a few breeding roosts are known; Paston Great Barn in Norfolk, parts of Exmoor and the Quantock Hills in Devon and Somerset (see Tarr Steps), Wimpole Wood in Cambridgeshire, the Mottisfont woodland in Hampshire and Ebernoe Common in West Sussex. The UK distribution can be found on the National Biodiversity Network website here.

This species is protected in the European Union under the Habitats Directive, meaning that habitats and roosts use by this species may be considered for notification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This species is also listed in the Berne Convention and is specifically targeted by the UNEP-EUROBATS convention. Several national legislation are also protecting this species and its habitats in many countries and regions. In order to highlight the importance of protecting this species at the European scale, this species was selected as bat species of the Year 2020-2021 by the pan-European NGO BatLife Europe.