Lesser Horseshoe

(Rhinolophus hipposideros)

The Lesser horseshoe bat is one of the rarest bats in the UK and Ireland. It is only found in Wales, southwest England, west Ireland and southwest Ireland.

Forearm 36 - 42mm / 1½ inches
Length 35 - 45mm / 1½ - 2 inches
Weight 5 - 9g / 3rd oz

Forearm 36 - 42mm / 1½ inches
Length 35 - 45mm / 1½ - 2 inches
Weight 5 - 9g / 3rd oz

Lesser Horseshoe bats in Ireland are found almost exclusively in uninhabited farm buildings where they hang directly on rafters. Access to roosts must be unhindered through a door or broken window. They can also be found in the attics of large farmhouses. They have been known to exit the roost by flying through the house, enter the basement and emerge through ventilation holes at ground level. Lesser horseshoes are also found in caves more than any other bat.

• Emergence: late after sunset just as it gets dark. Compare emergence to other N. Irish bats.

• Flight: Lesser horseshoes always fly along tree lines and hedgerows usually less than 5m off the ground. The flight is fast.

• Habitat: unimproved pasture, wood edges. Large prey items are brought back to feeding perch.

• Heterodyne: These bats echolocate at the highest frequency of all British and Irish bats. The loudest frequency is 110kHz and sounds like a warble.

• Time expansion: