Bat2Life

16/08/2026

🦇 Bat of the Month: Noctule Bat (Nyctalus noctula)
Fast, powerful and widespread, the Noctule Bat is a remarkable species of the European night sky. 🌙
Its range stretches across Europe to the Urals and the Caucasus, with populations also occurring in Asia Minor. It can make use of a variety of landscapes, including forests, wetlands, meadows, agricultural areas and urban environments.
🌿 As a nocturnal insect hunter, the Noctule Bat plays an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and contributes to the natural balance of insect populations.
🔎 Did you know?
The Noctule Bat belongs to the family Vespertilionidae and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
💚 Protecting diverse habitats means protecting the species that depend on them — including the bats that fill our skies after sunset.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület

15/08/2026

17/07/2026

One of the most remarkable things about this species is not its appearance—but its expansion.
Over the last few decades, Pipistrellus kuhlii has naturally extended its range northwards across Europe. Once considered mainly a Mediterranean species, it is now well established in Romania and has continued spreading through Ukraine, where its northern distribution limit currently reaches about 51°N. This range expansion has been documented in several scientific studies and is considered one of the best examples of a European bat responding to environmental change.
Unlike many range expansions caused by accidental introductions, this one appears to be a natural process, likely driven by a combination of climate warming, changing landscapes and the species' remarkable ecological adaptability. Scientists continue to study this expansion to better understand how wildlife responds to a changing environment.
🦇 Even a tiny bat can tell us a big story about how nature is changing.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine

16/07/2026

Children in Berehove Learned More About Bats 🦇

Why do bats only fly at night? Is it true that they get tangled in people’s hair? And how can we help these remarkable mammals?

Children from internally displaced families explored these and many other questions during an engaging environmental education session organized in Berehove by the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies (IERS).

During the event, participants learned fascinating facts about the lives of bats, their vital role in natural ecosystems, and their importance for biodiversity conservation. They also debunked common myths about bats, discovered interesting aspects of their behaviour, and learned why all bat species in Ukraine are protected.

The creative part of the workshop attracted special interest, as the children took part in a hands-on activity to build bat boxes. They learned about the different types of bat roosts, why these shelters are important, and how providing safe places can help protect bat populations.

Events like these not only increase knowledge about nature but also encourage people to recognize their responsibility for protecting God’s creation. Learning about nature also provides emotional support, promotes rehabilitation, and fosters a sense of peace and harmony.

🔹 This event was organized as part of the Bat2Life project, “Joint Bat Protection in the Border Regions of Romania and Ukraine through Increasing Environmental Awareness of Local Communities” (ROUA00346), funded by the Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Ukraine 2021–2027 Programme.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület

12/07/2026

🦇 Have you ever heard of Nathusius’ Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)?

At first glance, it looks remarkably similar to two of its close relatives—the Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and Kuhl’s Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii). But if you look closely, you’ll notice a few subtle differences: Nathusius’ Pipistrelle has longer fur on the tail membrane, shorter and narrower ears, and a warmer, reddish-brown coat.

This species occurs in both Romania and Ukraine, where it is typically associated with forests, wetlands, river valleys and lakes, feeding on insects along forest edges and over open water.

🌍 What makes this tiny bat truly extraordinary? Nathusius’ Pipistrelle is one of Europe’s best-known migratory bat species. Every autumn, it leaves its breeding grounds in northeastern Europe and travels to wintering areas farther south and west. While migration distances vary from one individual to another, some bats have been recorded flying more than 2,000 km—an incredible journey for a mammal weighing just 6–15 grams!

Its remarkable migrations remind us that bat conservation knows no borders. Protecting habitats and roosts across Europe is essential to ensure these tiny travellers can safely complete their annual journeys.

📖 Want to learn more? We’ve shared links to scientific studies about the record-breaking migrations of Nathusius’ Pipistrelle in the comments below.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület Darwin Day # Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine

08/07/2026

🦇 Meet the Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) – one of Europe’s largest and most fascinating bats!
The serotine bat is a powerful nocturnal hunter found across much of Europe. It is a relatively large bat, with broad wings and a strong flight style that allows it to hunt in open areas, along woodland edges, and around human settlements.
Unlike many smaller bat species, serotines are often seen flying relatively early in the evening, sometimes around dusk. They are known to hunt a wide variety of insects, including moths, beetles, and other large flying insects. Their powerful jaws allow them to handle larger prey items with tough body coverings, such as beetles.
One interesting feature of serotine bats is their ability to adapt to human landscapes. They frequently use buildings as roosts, including roof spaces, churches, and older structures. In some cases, they share buildings with other bat species, such as pipistrelles and long-eared bats.
Like all insect-eating bats, serotines play an important role in ecosystems by helping to control insect populations. However, they can be affected by the loss of suitable roosting sites, changes in agricultural landscapes, and declines in insect abundance.
Protecting old buildings, maintaining diverse habitats, and supporting healthy insect populations are important steps in conserving these remarkable flying mammals. Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület Interreg NEXT Romania-Ukraine

05/07/2026

🦇 For decades, bats in Europe were thought to be strict insect-eaters… with almost no exceptions.
European bats are generally considered insectivores, feeding almost exclusively on insects. For decades, scientists believed this was true for every bat species found in Europe.

Then came a surprising discovery.

In the early 2000s, researchers found bird feathers in the guano of the Giant Noctule (Nyctalus lasiopterus). It was an astonishing clue that this bat might occasionally prey on small migratory birds—but there was no direct proof.

That proof finally arrived in 2025.

Researchers from Aarhus University equipped Giant Noctules with tiny GPS "backpacks" and confirmed that these remarkable bats do indeed hunt and eat small migratory birds during their nocturnal flights.

🦇 It is the first direct evidence of bird predation by a European bat—a discovery that reminds us how much there is still to learn about the hidden lives of bats.

📖 The link to the full scientific article is available in the comments below if you'd like to learn more about this fascinating discovery.
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület

04/07/2026

🦇 Did you know? Until the 1990s, scientists thought the Common Pipistrelle and the Soprano Pipistrelle were actually the same species!
They look so similar that telling them apart by eye is extremely difficult.
Everything changed when researchers started using bat detectors and discovered that the two bats "speak" on different frequencies:
🎵 Common Pipistrelle: around 45 kHz
🎵 Soprano Pipistrelle: around 55 kHz
This acoustic clue eventually led to genetic studies, which confirmed that these were not just two versions of the same bat, but two distinct species that had evolved separately millions of years ago.
🌳💧 Interested in the details of how these two cryptic species differ in their distribution and habitat use? You'll find an excellent scientific article on the topic in the comments below.

Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület

30/06/2026

☀️🦇 Heatwave alert: bats need our help too!
Summer is here, and while we are looking for shade and a cool drink, bats are also struggling with extreme temperatures. During heatwaves, temperatures inside attics, roof spaces, and bat boxes can rise to dangerous levels, especially for maternity colonies with mothers and their pups.
What can we do to help?
✅ Do not block entrances to attics, barns, or bat roosts during summer. Bats need to move freely to find cooler spots and to forage at night.
✅ Avoid disturbing colonies in roofs or buildings. Mothers may leave their pups behind during feeding trips and will return later.
✅ Provide water sources in gardens if possible. A shallow pond or a container with gently sloping sides can become an important drinking place for wildlife during dry periods.
✅ If you find a bat on the ground during the day, especially during extreme heat, it may be dehydrated or exhausted. Do not handle it with bare hands. If possible, place a small container over it to protect it from predators and contact a local bat rescue or wildlife expert for advice.
✅ If renovations are planned, postpone work near known bat roosts until after the breeding season whenever possible.
Climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and intense, and protecting safe roosts is becoming increasingly important for Europe's bats.
A little shade, a little water, and a little patience can make a big difference. 🦇💧🌳
Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület

26/06/2026

🌞🎲 School’s out, summer is here – hooray! 🎲🌞
And that means one thing for parents everywhere:
👧 "Mum, I’m booooored..."
👦 "What should I do?"
🧒 "Will you play with me?"
Good news — the Bat2Life project has the perfect solution! Our ChiropTerra board game is designed to help children to discover the secret lives of bats while having fun together with family and friends.
Through play, children can learn:
✅ fascinating facts about bats and their hidden world,
✅ why bats are so important for nature, and
✅ how we can all help protect these amazing animals.
The game includes 30 question cards filled with charming illustrations, funny situations, and entertaining challenges that are sure to make players smile and laugh along the way.
Because learning about nature is always better when it comes with a little adventure and a lot of fun! 🦇❤️
Who knows? By the end of the holidays, your children might become real bat experts! Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies- IERS Asociația E-Consult Egyesület