Rare ‘Back from the Brink’ bat discovered by National Bats in Churches Survey volunteers in Somerset church

Rare ‘Back from the Brink’ bat discovered by National Bats in Churches Survey volunteers in Somerset church - Mammal Society

DNA analysis confirms presence of grey long-eared bat in Somerset church
There are thought to be only 1,000 grey long-eared bats in England and records are precious
The bat was discovered by a volunteer for the National Bats in Churches Survey and ‘shows the power of citizen science’

Volunteers for the National Bats in Churches Survey have discovered one of the rarest mammals in Britain living in a Somerset church.

DNA analysis of droppings found in the church confirmed the presence of grey long-eared bat, alongside the more common brown long-eared bat and serotine.

This is only the second time a grey long-eared bat has been discovered by the National Bats in Churches Survey, a volunteer-led citizen science project run by the Bats in Churches partnership of heritage and conservation organisations. In 2020, DNA evidence confirmed the presence of the species in a church in Devon.

Claire Boothby, training and surveys officer at Bats in Churches, said: ‘The National Bats in Churches Survey is allowing us to make exciting new discoveries about bats and their use of churches, including the confirmation of one of the rarest British mammals in a Somerset church. As we know so few grey long-eared bat roosting sites, each confirmation of the species is precious. Through the National Bats in Churches Survey we’ve gained records from more than 700 churches across the country, showing the power of citizen science. Thanks to our team of volunteers, our research will give us needed knowledge to better conserve bats and provide information and support for churches.’