THE thought of spending an evening hunting and capturing bats is probably not something that would appeal to most…
But one recent sighting has caused excitement in the community.
A rare species of bat that is “particularly difficult to catch” was caught in Jersey for the first time in decades.
The Greater Horseshoe Bat, scientifically known as Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, has not been captured on the Island since the 1950s.
An adult male was caught in a net set up in St Peter’s Valley at around 11.30pm on Sunday. Details such as its sex and age were recorded and the bat was set free after around 15 minutes to minimise any distress.
The Jersey Bat Group revealed it had, in collaboration with Sangan Island Conservation, captured one.
Miranda Collette, one of the team of experts who caught it, said: “It was quite something to look at.
“It was a male adult. It appeared to be very calm. You could hear its heartbeat going.
“Of course they are nervous. That’s why we handle them for the least amount of time possible.
“We had been hoping for a pregnant female as that would have shown they are breading in the Island.”
Other members of the group involved in the capture and release session were Amy Hall, Piers Sangan, Hanna Le Morvan and Tristan Whipps.
The charity said in a social media post: “This represents a very significant record for the Island and an important addition to our understanding of Jersey’s bat fauna.
“The presence of this species raises exciting questions about its status locally — whether Jersey supports a small resident population or whether these bats are occasional visitors moving between the island and mainland France.”
The charity added: “The species was known to occur in Jersey for some time through acoustic recordings and observations made during previous survey work.
“[This has been] carried out by a number of researchers and volunteers over the years, including the JBG and Sangan Island Conservation.
“However, despite several targeted capture attempts, the species had never previously been physically captured and confirmed in the Island.”
The group also recorded three common Pipistrelles and a brown long-eared bat.
