There are approximately 25 native bat species in Germany. They are nocturnal and primarily hunt insects. The bat species themselves are as diverse as their habitat and roosting requirements. Some species live in tree hollows and bark crevices in forests, while others live in settlements under cladding and in cavities in walls. During the warm season, they primarily need a protected place to sleep and raise their young. During the cold season, they hibernate, so their roosts should be frost-free, undisturbed, and have high humidity. The animals usually occupy different roosts in summer than in winter, and depending on the species, they live alone or in colonies.

Almost all native bat species are threatened with extinction, mainly due to the destruction of their natural habitats. The renovation of old buildings and the sealing of potential roosting places, the destruction of insect habitats, the destruction of deadwood stocks, and the use of insect repellents and wood preservatives are increasingly reducing the habitat of bats.

In order for bats to feel at home in our region, they need suitable places to sleep, breed, and hibernate. When renovating older buildings, care should be taken not to destroy bat roosts and to preserve suitable places for them to retreat. Bats are loyal to their habitat. If part of a building has been colonized by bats, the lower nature conservation authority or a competent nature conservation organization should be consulted before renovation. You can find out about the options for bat-friendly building renovation in the brochure "The bat-friendly house," the link to which can be found below. As a rule, bats do not cause any damage to the building fabric; they simply need a place to "hang out." The animals' droppings are also odorless.

Another way to provide bats with suitable roosting places is to install special nesting boxes. The NABU website provides instructions for building nesting boxes as well as ready-made boxes for different species of bats. Further information can be found in the list of links below.

Your own garden and balcony can also be made bat-friendly. Bats eat nocturnal insects, which in turn need plants for food. If you plant and sow night-blooming and nectar-rich plants, the abundance of insects in your garden will increase. A list of suitable plants can be found in the list of links.

Bats are repeatedly linked to the novel coronavirus. The NABU website states that bats in Germany cannot infect humans. This is because there is no evidence that bats native to Germany are carriers of the coronavirus strain from which SARS-CoV-2 originated. NABU has compiled further information on the topic of bats and disease transmission on its website.