Pond Bat (Myotis dasycneme) lives in freshwater wetlands across Northern Europe and Asia. It feeds on insects and fish. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Pond Bat
- Pond bats have been recorded roosting as high as 1000 metres above sea level, which is far above the usual winter ceiling of 300 metres. This extreme altitude is the highest known for the species and shows that they can use mountain foothills when lower-lying sites are unavailable.
- A pond bat can live for nearly two decades, with the longest-recorded individual reaching 19 years of age. This longevity is notable for a small European bat and suggests that individuals can survive many breeding cycles. The species' lifespan allows females to reach sexual maturity in their second year and potentially contribute to several generations of offspring over a long life.
- In May, a single summer nursery may host between 40 and 400 female pond bats, often with almost no males present. These dense colonies are typically found in human structures such as attics and church steeples, though occasional nests occur in hollow trees or nest boxes. The large number of females gathering together provides a safe environment for raising young during the breeding season.
- Pond bats use very short-range echolocation, with each FM call travelling only five to twenty-one metres, which is ideal for picking off insects hovering just above water. A single call lasts five to eight milliseconds and the bat repeats the signal roughly eight to ten times each second, giving it a rapid update on nearby prey.
- Pond bats specialise in hunting over calm or still water, such as canals, rivers and lakes, where they can capture insects that emerge directly from the surface. They fly low over these water bodies and often take prey straight from the water's skin, a behaviour that ties them closely to wetland habitats. This feeding strategy means the bats are most commonly found in lowland regions that combine water, meadows and woods during the summer months.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorthern Europe and Asia
HabitatFreshwater wetlands
DietInsects and fish
About the Pond Bat
In the velvety darkness of a summer evening, the pond bat emerges, its leathery wings beating with a slow, deliberate rhythm as it dances above the water's surface, sending out a cacophony of high-pitched calls to navigate and hunt in the dimly lit world. With each fluid motion, it weaves a complex tapestry of sound and movement, its large ears twitching with every echo, guiding it with unerring precision to the unsuspecting insects that skim the pond's surface. As it flits and swoops, its glossy fur glistening with dew, the pond bat embodies the very essence of nocturnal elegance, a true master of the twilight realm.
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