1. All about bats.

2. What types of bats do we have in the UK? In the UK, we are lucky enough to have 17 different types of bats. They range from the tiny pipistrelle bat which is just a few centremetres long, to the larger noctule bat, which is still smaller than an adult's hand!

3. What do bats eat? All bats native to the UK eat insects. Each species has its favourite insects, hunting them in its own special way. Most are caught and eaten in mid-air, though it is sometimes easier to hang up to eat larger prey.

4. All bats have very big appetites because flying uses up lots of energy. The tiny pipistrelle can eat over 3000 insects in a night! In winter, when there are fewer insects around for them to feed on, bats go into a deep sleep called hibernation to save energy.

5. Some bats in other parts of the world eat fruit, flowers, fish, frogs, blood and even other bats!

6. Where do bats live? Where bats live is called their 'roost.' They roost in different places at different times of the year. Some places bats like to roost are: Trees Caves Bridges Barns Or even houses!

7. In the winter, when bats go into hibernation, they usually move into caves or disused mines or tunnels, where the temperature is cooler and they won't be disturbed. For several weeks in summer, female bats live together in a 'maternity roost', choosing somewhere warm to have their babies. They stay here until their babies are able to fly and feed themselves.

8. How do they find their way around in the dark? Many people think bats are blind, but in fact they can see almost as well as you or I. However, at night, their ears are more important than their eyes - they use a special sonar system called 'echolocation,' meaning they find things using echoes. As bats fly they make shouting sounds, which are too high for most humans to hear (although sometimes children are able to hear them). The echoes they get back from their shouts give them information about anything that is ahead of them, including the size and shape of an insect and which way it is going. We can hear the sounds bats make using a special instrument called a 'bat detector.'

9. Why do bats hang upside down? If bats hung by their thumbs they would have to let go before spreading their wings. By hanging upside down they are able to spread their wings ready for take-off. They also have a good clear view for both seeing and hearing before flight.