Bats in MV: Dramatic decline threatens native species!

Bats in MV: Dramatic decline threatens native species!

On a warm summer evening, not only people but also the animal world adapt to this: the bats, which have lived on our planet for 50 million years, fly through the air to look for their nightly food. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is home to 16 of the 25 bat species recorded in Germany, but the alarming numbers speak for themselves. According to the German Nature Conservation Association, NABU, 11 of these species are in a worrying state of conservation. What's going on here? Insect extinction, driven by intensive agriculture and forestry, is having a serious impact on these fascinating mammals.

Bats are unique creatures that feed on insects and are indispensable as natural pest controllers. However, they are fighting for survival. Forest dwellers such as the pug bat, the lesser noctule and the lesser bearded bat are particularly at risk. Their brutal distribution limits only protect a few places, mainly in the Recknitz and Trebel valleys. It is now important to protect the habitats of these animals, because the European protection regulations, which also include the Habitats Directive, ensure the existence of these species, which are already on the red list.

Bat conservation needs committed support

NABU calls for measures that go beyond mere protective legislation: land use in protected areas must be reduced to a level that is compatible with nature. This is urgently needed because almost a third of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's area consists of European protected areas. But reality shows that 97% of habitat types in the region are already classified as inadequate or poor. This also affects 65% of the 96 specially protected animal and plant species.

In order to raise awareness of the endangered situation of bats, the International Bat Night takes place on the last weekend in August. This weekend, in 38 countries, including Germany, attention will be drawn to the enormous difficulties that these animals have to endure. Batnight events in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are listed on the website batnight.de and invite the population to take an active part in protecting these animals.

Planned events for Batnight

These events are on the program in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania:

• 22. August: Fledermausnacht im Plauer Stadtwald (Netzfang)
• 23. August: Fledermausnacht im Rostocker Zoo
• 24. August: Führung auf dem Fledermauspfad in Bossow
• 30. August: Fledermausnacht in der St.-Thomas-Kirche Damshagen, Batnight am Königsstuhl in Sassnitz, Fledermausführung im Fasaneriepark Neustrelitz.

These events not only offer the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating animals, but also to actively work to protect them. It is a call to everyone to open their eyes and take responsibility for a piece of nature in our surroundings.

Bat projects run by the German Wildlife Foundation show how important sound research is for protecting the species. The use of modern GPS telemetry methods provides insights into the living environment of these animals and their flight behavior, which provides information about habitat structures and foraging. In the Plön Lakes, for example, successful pilot studies were carried out, where new insights into the lifestyle of noctules were gained, which were monitored using light barriers and GPS transmitters.

It is up to us to protect endangered populations through sustainable measures and thus create a balance between people and nature. Let's stand up for the bats together before it's too late!