Monmouthshire is home to 14 of the 18 UK species of bat. It is also a stronghold for the rare greater and lesser horseshoe bat.
Bats are a vital part of our native wildlife, occupying a wide range of habitats, including wetlands, woodlands, farmland, as well as urban areas. They can tell us a lot about the state of the environment, as they are top predators of common nocturnal insects and are sensitive to changes in land use practices.
Like the rest of the UK, bat populations in Monmouthshire have declined considerably over the last century. Our bats are still under threat from building and development work that affects roosts, loss of habitat, the severing of commuting routes by roads and threats in the home including cat attacks and some chemical treatments of building materials. As a result all species of bat are protected by law.