New winter shelters fot he Khortytsia’s bats

New winter shelters fot he Khortytsia’s bats

On that date, specialists from the Khortytsia National Reserve’s nature protection department hung 22 wooden bat houses on the island. These houses will serve as new winter shelters for many of Khortytsia’s bats, as this year’s devastating fires partially destroyed their preferred winter habitats.

These houses can jokingly be called “dormitories” because each can accommodate about a hundred bats.

The UAnimals organization, a movement that promotes humane treatment of animals, purchased 22 houses at their own expense and transferred them to the reserve.

Another good deed has been accomplished through joint efforts!

Thank you, UAnimals, for your love of Khortytsia Island!

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Here is some informative and interesting information about the bats.

Bats are a unique group of mammals. During the evolutionary process, they occupied a specialized ecological niche; all European bat species are nocturnal insect hunters. They are also susceptible to the slightest environmental changes. The main reasons for this are their slow reproduction rates, their use of existing shelters, their complex thermoregulation, their need to change summer and winter habitats, their long-distance seasonal migrations, and their life in social groups.

Bats in Ukraine do not build nests or dig burrows; they only use the shelters provided by nature or humans. These include hollows and cracks in old forest trees, caves, tunnels, and cracks in buildings. Therefore, the destruction of forests and parkland forces bats to constantly search for new shelters in urban areas. However, the urban environment poses many dangers. These dangers include human misunderstanding and cruelty, various anthropogenic “traps” (open windows, air vents, and ventilation systems), and the destruction of shelters during repair and dismantling work in houses and apartments. These factors have pushed bats to the brink of extinction over the past few decades.

Ukraine’s bat fauna includes 28 species belonging to two families: Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae. In Ukraine, bats are recognized as a vulnerable group that requires special protection. According to faunal reports, six species of these animals have been recorded on the Khortytsia Island.

Therefore, to help these animals survive, people must understand the complexity of bat life and the fact that they are on the verge of extinction. By preserving biodiversity, we can maintain the fragile balance of the natural ecosystems. And all of us are also part of this balance.

The material was prepared by Mykhailo Mulenko, the head of the Department of Nature.