Why Early Year Bat Sightings Matter
Early year bat sightings can be surprising, especially during Scotland’s coldest months. Most of the time, we expect bats to stay hidden until spring, but brief winter activity can be both normal and important. These sightings help experts understand how bats are coping with changing weather conditions, how well winter roosts are working for them, and whether early season environmental pressures might affect their survival.
So what does it mean if you see a bat in January or February?
Winter activity is not always a sign of trouble
Short periods of mild weather can allow insects to appear in small numbers. When this happens, bats may wake, leave their roost for a brief flight, and take the opportunity to feed. This does not usually indicate that the bat is distressed. Instead, it reflects flexible ways bats manage their energy through winter.
Scottish winters often shift between cold and mild spells, and our bats adjust their behaviour in response.
What early sightings can tell us
Early year sightings provide useful information about many things:
#1 How stable winter roosts are
If bats are seen regularly outside buildings, bridges, or trees where they roost, this may indicate that the roost is warming or cooling too quickly. Temperature stability is essential for winter survival, so unexpected activity helps experts understand whether conditions are changing.
#2 How bats are responding to Scotland’s variable climate
Short thaws or periods of unseasonal warmth can influence when bats wake. Sightings made during these times help build better models of bat behaviour and reveal how different species cope with fluctuating temperatures.
#3 Where bats may be roosting
Winter observations often come from places that are not commonly associated with wildlife. For example, bats which normally roost in crevices in a building may be roosting in a disused tunnel many miles from their usual foraging grounds.
When a sighting needs Your attention
Most early year sightings are harmless, but a bat in difficulty needs urgent help. Signs of concern include:
A bat lying on the ground - none of our bats can take off from the ground. If you see a grounded bat at any time of year, contact your nearest wildlife rescue or call BCT.
A bat struggling to fly
A bat exposed during freezing conditions
A bat found inside a house unable to exit
If this occurs, the safest approach is to contact Bat Conservation Trust’s national helpline. Handling bats without training is not recommended and can place you and the bat at risk.
How to report sightings
You can report sightings through trusted wildlife recording schemes like Mammal Tracker, which helps build long term data on bat behaviour across Scotland. Accurate records support better decision making and help protect populations that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Every sighting contributes to a wider understanding of how bats survive the most challenging part of the year. As climate patterns continue to change, winter behaviour will remain an important part of bat conservation. Public reports help fill knowledge gaps and support the work carried out by professional ecologists across Scotland.
With simple actions and a better understanding of what winter activity means, communities can play an important role in helping bats reach spring safely.
References
Bat Conservation Trust 2024. Helpline Advice Resources. Bat Conservation Trust, London.
Bat Conservation Trust 2023. Monitoring Bats: Guidance for Professional Ecologists. Bat Conservation Trust, London.
NatureScot 2020. Bats: Licensing and Guidance. NatureScot, Inverness.