Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 66

life

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING

Vampire Isle…
By Tony Ridd

When it comes to looking for rare
bats, the Isle of Wight is the best
place in the UK to start looking! A
recent study funded by the People’s
Trust for Endangered Species (PTES)
and the Environment Agency
also say we are one of the most
important areas for woodland bat
species in Europe.
For centuries, Western superstitions
and mis-conceptions have vilified bats,
transforming them from small, elusive

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creatures into shape-shifting, blood-sucking
villains, as evidenced by the spooky
decorations and vampire costumes on
display each Halloween. Bats are not only
suffering from this poor reputation, but
more evidently from a decline in populations
due to habitat loss, as well as through
changes in agricultural practices and the
use of pesticides which affect insects on
which they feed. The rare Bechstein’s bats
in particular are vulnerable to light pollution
from developed areas and poor woodland
management, which can result in the loss of
suitable roosting sites when dead trees are

cleared.
However, the survey has recorded the
distribution of woodland bats across the Isle
of Wight, confirming that the island is a UK
stronghold for Bechstein’s and Barbastelle
bats. Reasercher, Ian Davidson-Watts, who
led the survey, says: ‘The results of this study
have confirmed the Isle of Wight as the UK’s,
and possibly Europe’s, centre for these rare
bats. The island is of critical importance
to the conservation of these species on
an international level, and every effort
should be made to ensure their habitat is
appropriately protected’.

The Island's new funky radio station www.wightFM.com