Night of the Bat

Did you know that about twenty species of bats live in Belgium? Come and discover them during the Night of the Bat on Saturday, August 29. Bats are flying nocturnal animals that many people are secretly a little afraid of. But that is not necessary, because they do not fly into your hair, do not turn into vampires, and are not aggressive. Although there are more than 1400 species of bats worldwide, only 17 occur in Flanders. The most common are the whiskered bat, the Natterer's bat, the common pipistrelle, the Bechstein's bat, the serotine, and the noctule. In winter, bats hibernate in a hidden spot. In summer, they are more active and you can spot them more easily. Some species live only in buildings, others only in hollow trees, and still others in both. Bats and their habitats are legally protected, but that alone is insufficient to maintain viable populations of all species. Special actions, such as furnishing attics, can boost the numbers again. After a short presentation in De Steenoven, we will head to the forest and the park around the castle of Herzele, armed with a bat detector, in search of bats. Our guide Frederik will help us spot the creatures. The ideal end to the summer holidays!