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| DNA analysis finds rare bat roosting in Somerset church | DNA analysis finds rare bat roosting in Somerset church |
| (4 months later) | |
| Grey long-eared bats were found living in a Somerset church | Grey long-eared bats were found living in a Somerset church |
| One of the UK's rarest bats has been discovered roosting in a church in Somerset. | One of the UK's rarest bats has been discovered roosting in a church in Somerset. |
| The grey long-eared bat was found in a church in the Blackdown Hills on the border with Devon. | The grey long-eared bat was found in a church in the Blackdown Hills on the border with Devon. |
| It was identified by DNA analysis of bat droppings by volunteers from the National Bats in Churches Survey. | It was identified by DNA analysis of bat droppings by volunteers from the National Bats in Churches Survey. |
| It is only the second time the species has been discovered by the survey. In 2020 similar analysis found evidence of the bats living in east Devon. | It is only the second time the species has been discovered by the survey. In 2020 similar analysis found evidence of the bats living in east Devon. |
| Claire Boothby, training and surveys officer at Bats in Churches, said: "As we know so few grey long-eared bat roosting sites, each confirmation of the species is precious. | Claire Boothby, training and surveys officer at Bats in Churches, said: "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." | "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." |
| She continued: "Thanks to our team of volunteers, our research will give us needed knowledge to better conserve bats and provide information and support for churches." | She continued: "Thanks to our team of volunteers, our research will give us needed knowledge to better conserve bats and provide information and support for churches." |
| Ms Boothby said as grey long-eared bats look so similar to brown long-eared bats, a relatively common species, DNA testing of their droppings is one of the most effective ways to tell them apart. | Ms Boothby said as grey long-eared bats look so similar to brown long-eared bats, a relatively common species, DNA testing of their droppings is one of the most effective ways to tell them apart. |
| She said because of that, it was likely the roosting sites of grey long-eared bats were under reported. | She said because of that, it was likely the roosting sites of grey long-eared bats were under reported. |
| Grey long-eared bat numbers have declined due to habitat loss | Grey long-eared bat numbers have declined due to habitat loss |
| There are thought to be just 1,000 grey long-eared bats in England and the species has been badly hit by habitat loss. | There are thought to be just 1,000 grey long-eared bats in England and the species has been badly hit by habitat loss. |
| Its preferred hunting ground of "unimproved grassland" - open spaces that have never been ploughed, reseeded or heavily fertilised - has declined by 92% in the past century, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. | Its preferred hunting ground of "unimproved grassland" - open spaces that have never been ploughed, reseeded or heavily fertilised - has declined by 92% in the past century, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. |
| 'Very encouraging' | 'Very encouraging' |
| Bats in Churches has not disclosed the exact location of the churches in Devon and Somerset where the bats were found in order to protect their roosts. | Bats in Churches has not disclosed the exact location of the churches in Devon and Somerset where the bats were found in order to protect their roosts. |
| Carol Williams, director of conservation at Bat Conservation Trust, said: "It's very encouraging to be aware of more records coming in from Somerset. | Carol Williams, director of conservation at Bat Conservation Trust, said: "It's very encouraging to be aware of more records coming in from Somerset. |
| "When there are so few of this species left in England, knowing where the remaining animals are is of great importance." | "When there are so few of this species left in England, knowing where the remaining animals are is of great importance." |
| The grey long-eared bat was one of 20 target species for the Back from the Brink project which ran between 2017 and 2021. | The grey long-eared bat was one of 20 target species for the Back from the Brink project which ran between 2017 and 2021. |
| It brought together a coalition of conservation bodies to save some of England's most threatened species. | It brought together a coalition of conservation bodies to save some of England's most threatened species. |
| Over the course of the programme, conservationists worked to enhance 80 hectares of foraging habitat in Devon, and to improve the habitats between roosts in order to connect different colonies. | Over the course of the programme, conservationists worked to enhance 80 hectares of foraging habitat in Devon, and to improve the habitats between roosts in order to connect different colonies. |
| The project also ran an education programme to increase awareness of the grey long-eared bat and improved the monitoring of the species. | The project also ran an education programme to increase awareness of the grey long-eared bat and improved the monitoring of the species. |
| Edward Wells, Somerset Bat Group member, said: "What is quite clear is that we are getting more and more records of grey long-eared bats coming over the last five years. | Edward Wells, Somerset Bat Group member, said: "What is quite clear is that we are getting more and more records of grey long-eared bats coming over the last five years. |
| "It's quite likely that it has been under-recorded, not least because its close relative, the brown long-eared bat, is our third commonest species and observers tend to go with the most likely identification." | "It's quite likely that it has been under-recorded, not least because its close relative, the brown long-eared bat, is our third commonest species and observers tend to go with the most likely identification." |
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| Related Topics | |
| Conservation | |
| Bats |