The Pipistrelle is the smallest bat in Europe with a wing span of only 35mm. It has the loudest call of all bats relative to its size, making a sound like a fast hand clap which can be heard on a bat detector! Pipistrelles often have dark brown fur on their backs and yellowish undersides.
Pipistrelles are widespread living around the woodland edge, by marshes, buildings or over water.
Like all bats the Pipistrelle has a clever way of flying in the dark. It tracks down prey and avoids bumping into obstacles by using a system of echo-location (a bit like a ship’s radar!). It makes frequent high pitched squeaks which bounce back from objects and build up a ‘picture’ of where things are in the dark.
Carnivore - Pipistrelles feed fairly early in the evening and their preferred food is small moths, caddisflies, gnats and other insects. One Pipistrelle bat can eat up to 3,000 insects in one night!
The change from broadleaved woodland to coniferous woodland has affected the number and type of species found in the New Forest. There has also been a decline in traditional coppicing in recent years. Coppicing created open glades which attracted a rich diversity of species. As these glades decline in numbers so does the diversity of animals, plants and lichens living within the woodland.