null Bat monitoring is not bad at all

NCA CR

Bat monitoring is not bad at all

16. 2. 2021

We counted 619 lesser horseshoe bats in Turold cave (Mikulov, South Moravia) during their hibernation in 2020, this year was almost the same with 601 lesser horseshoe bats.

In addition we found this year 12 Geoffroy's bat (Myotis emarginatus) one of Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) and Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii). The Turold cave belongs among the most favourable wintering sites for lesser horseshoe bats in the country. Nevertheless about 300 of this species also spent this winter in sellars of famous Lednice chateau.

The first bat monitoring in Turold cave was organised in 1958, when only 113 individuals of lesser horseshoe bat were discovered. The numbers started to fall down when the cave was open to public and in the 70s of 20th century there were even none observed during winter. The situation improved dramatically when the cave was closed just for the period of bats hibernation.

Photo: Jan Miklín

Photo: Jan Miklín