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Hibernating Bat


Hibernating Bat
Photo Information
Copyright: Phil Cannings (PhilC) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 22 W: 21 N: 78] (367)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-01-17
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-11-13 16:01
Viewed: 1139
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a photograph taken of a hibernating Natterer's Bat - Myotis natteri - which was photographed as part of a survey of the hibernation site it was using. In this case the hibernation site was an old railway tunnel which has long since been disused and has been developed as a hibernation site for bats.

The bat is hibernating in a crevice formed by the soot and muck thrown out over tens of years by steam trains and this has formed a layer on the inside of the tunnel which is now starting to peel away leaving these crevices. This crevice is about 15mm deep which is about all the space these bats need to tuck themselves away and hibernate. Because of how these crevices are formed the site is very fragile and at risk of disturbance and damage.

In order to hibernate a bat requires a site which will remain pretty much undisturbed and which will have a constant temperature of 2 or 3 degress throughout the hibernation period. Because hibernation in bats is a full chemical process which involves changes to the body chemistry and takes a lot of energy to reverse bats cannot afford to be disturbed and brought out of hibernation prematurely. Coming out of hibernation early will frequently lead to their death through starvation because they cannot relace the energy lost in bringing their bodies to an active state again because there is insufficient food around for them to feed on.

This particular site provides all that bats require and is regularly occupied by several hundred bats throughout the winter of a number of different species. This particular year we had found several dead partly eaten bats, and this bat, if you look closely, has damage to its ear where it has been chewed. This is why I took this photo. What we believe was happening was rodents were finding and eating the hibernating bats in the tunnel.

PLEASE NOTE - Bats are a European Protected species and their disturbance is illegal in Europe. The surveying I was involved in was licenced as was the taking of the photograph which was incidental to the survey to record the injuries to the bat. No disturbance was caused to the bats.

EOS 1Ds - 100 mm macro at f2.8 and 1/60 sec, handheld. Post processing limited to cropping and slight sharpening.

Regards - Phil.
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Hello Phil! Fascinating notes, and a well lit capture of this little sleeping bat! Well done! Linda

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