Bat Species in Kent

The Kent Bat Group has been working to help protect the county's bats and learn more about them since 1983. Sixteen of Britain's 18 resident bat species have since been recorded in Kent.

Whiskered bat

(Myotis mystacinus)

This appears to be the commonest of the three species particularly in East Kent and the only species so far found grounded. One maternity roost under hanging tiles is monitored annually and is close to the Blean Woods complex where the bats are presumed to forage.

Click here to see a video of one that came into care in 2025. https://youtu.be/7Mdr6gHTluU

Related Photos

This bat was recorded on a hibernation survey in February 2024. Tucked away in crevices it's not always easy to identify bats, but this photograph taken on a mobile phone to minimise disturbance, shows the large, bristly feet which tells the surveyors it's a Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii).

This bat was recorded on a hibernation survey in February 2024. Tucked away in crevices it's not always easy to identify bats, but this photograph taken on a mobile phone to minimise disturbance, shows the large, bristly feet which tells the surveyors it's a Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii).
A Lesser horseshoe bat, a species currently using Dover castle to hibernate in.
lesser horseshoe

A Lesser horseshoe bat, a species currently using Dover castle to hibernate in.
Lithuanian ringed Nathusius' pipistrelle.
© Katheryn Leggat
lith nat

Lithuanian ringed Nathusius' pipistrelle.
© Katheryn Leggat