> Yes the very small furry things that have large wing span, when wings > are > closed the bat measures about 3inches long, and when the bat is flying > around the boat (inside) they seem to be about 1ft across.
There are three possibilities:- Most likely is Daubenton's bat, which specialises in hunting over water - about the size you quote, with a pinkish face and white underside rather sharply divided from the palish brown back. This species is a rabies vector and there has been a recent human fatal infection in the UK. You should only handle live or dead bats with gloves and it might be prudent to contact the Bat Conservation Trust (details below) about getting dead bats tested. If you are bitten you should urgently seek rabies treatment. The Bat Conservation Trust requires batworkers to have precautionary anti-rabies treatment which is why I have ceased to be a batworker. Pipistrelle - rather smaller than the size you quote, dark face, less clear demarcation between back and underside (both darker than Daubenton's). Long-eared - unmistakable huge ears. Neither of these species has tested positive for rabies to date. > > Where we moor: there is no buildings, the only trees are a willow and > a > hawthorn bush, we can only guess the bats are under pontoon. > > We have had upto 9 or 10 alive on the boat and at least 7 or bodie's > in the > boat. It sounds as if the cat has found a roost and is catching bats as they emerge, when they are unmanoevrable and vulnerable. At this time of year the roost will contain suckling young, which will starve if their mothers are killed, and one cat is quite capable of eliminating the entire population of bats for several miles, as their habit of concentrating into one roost makes them vulnerable. > > Am I right in thinking that they must be under the pontoon? She can't > be > swipping them from the air? can she. It is most likely that she has located a roost - they crawl out and then take wing and cannot take evasive action while doing so. Roosts may be in masonry or tree holes. > > Cat (Doris) is pure white with two bells on her coller the bells are > actually peirced through the coller so they are 180 degrees apart. > > Any ideas how to stop the Doris from catching bats. > You have to keep her inside during the period when bats are vulnerable. Assuming they are Daubenton's, these normally emerge about half an hour after sunset; if they have dependent young they will revisit the colony to suckle during the night and all bats will re-enter the colony just before dawn. I am sorry to come over rather 'heavy' on this, but you are potentially putting yourself at risk by exposing yourself to infected bats (which are likely to be the most easily caught); it is also an offence under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act to 'possess or control a bat (alive or dead) ... unless the person can show they have it lawfully'. For more information visit the Bat Conservation Trust website:- http://www.bats.org.uk or ring their helpline on 0845 1300 228. > > Moose & Maria > NB Daisybob > Sean ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/6pRQfA/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/ygtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
