Bat hibernation: Scottish quest to solve puzzle – in pictures

It remains a mystery as to where most of Scotland’s bats hibernate. Anne Youngman, Scottish officer for the Bat Conservation Trust, and the ecologist John Haddow conduct a survey in a disused quarry tunnel and at Doune Castle


  • Arriving at Doune Castle, near Stirling, a favourite roost for pipistrelle bats. It remains a mystery as to where most of Scotland’s bat population hibernate
    Pinterest
    Arriving at Doune Castle - which is a favourite roost for pipistrelle bats. It remains a mystery as to where most of Scotland’s bat population hibernate


  • The site was used as the backdrop for Castle Anthrax in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
    Pinterest
    The castle was used as Castle Anthrax in the backdrop for the film Monty Python


  • Anne Youngman spots a bat sleeping in a crevice behind a sign at the castle. The pictures here were taken within a licence and under supervision
    Pinterest
    Anne Youngman spots a bat sleeping in a crevice behind a sign at the Castle.The pictures here were taken within a licence and under supervision


  • John Haddow and Youngman look for bats sleeping in crevices in a fireplace. Bats hibernate as they cannot feed in the winter
    Pinterest
    John Haddow and Anne Youngman look for bats sleeping in crevices in a fire place


  • Youngman looks for bats in a cellar. Some bats migrate but generally the populations in Scotland do not and they look for places with a steady cold temperature where they are unlikely to be disturbed
    Pinterest
    Anne Youngman looks for bats sleeping in crevices in a cellar


  • Youngman and Haddow using flashlights in the disused quarry tunnel
    Pinterest
    Anne and John using flashlights in the disused quarry tunnell.


  • Searching for bats
    Pinterest
    Anne Youngman Scottish Officer for the Bat Conservation Trust and ecologist John Haddow


  • A hibernating Daubenton’s bat. Once the bats have found a suitable site, they settle in and reduce their heart rate
    Pinterest
    A hibernating Daubenton’s bat


  • A pipistrelle bat in a crevice. There are 17 species of bat in the UK
    Pinterest
    A pipistrelle bat in a crevice


  • Only nine species survive in Scotland. They range from the pipistrelle to the noctule
    Pinterest
    A pipistrelle bat in a crevice


  • A pipistrelle bat in a crevice
    Pinterest
    A pipistrelle bat in a crevice


  • Youngman finds a brown long-eared bat
    Pinterest
    Anne Youngman finds a brown long eared bat


  • A hibernating natterer’s bat
    Pinterest
    A hibernating Natterer’s bat


  • Recording climactic data in the hibernation location
    Pinterest
    Recording climactic data in the hibernation location


  • Youngman, wearing bat earrings, records sightings
    Pinterest
    Anne Youngman, wearing bat ear rings, records sightings


  • Haddow exits the tunnel
    Pinterest
    John exits the underground tunnel


  • Recording the data. Youngman said that while as many as 1,600 pipistrelle can be counted around the village of Doune during summer months, it is rare to find 30 there in winter. So where do the rest go?
    Pinterest
    Recording the data


  • A bat sculpture on a nature trail at Doune Castle
    Pinterest
    A bat sculpture on a nature trail at Doune Castle near Stirling
Wildlife
Scotland Animals Conservation