Radio telemetary allows bats to be followed as surveyors track their movements from dusk to dawn. It is a valuable method used to locate seasonal roosts and commuting routes. With the appropriate information habitat use can also be analysed. This information may be required when development proposals may result in changes to the landscape used by bats and helps to highlight avoidance measures as well as successful mitigation and compensation. Over the years we have (each) undertaken over 1500 hours of radio tracking in the field. These studies have guided the design of new towns, wind farms and infrastructure such as roads and reservoirs. Our radio tracking studies have also assisted the National Trust in designing large scale habitat improvement schemes, the Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and private land owners in promoting positive woodland management for long term restoration projects. We also worked closely with New Forest District Council radio tracking greater horseshoe bats as part of a larger project to inform the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Scroll through the photographs below to see the various stages of capture and radio tracking bats.

The map below shows radio tracking 'fixes' for Natterer's bat along waterway. Red dots show roosts used during the 10 night period. Click here to find out about radio tracking work in the New Forest and Greywell Tunnell.