Foraging behaviour and habitat use of the serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) in southern England

Radio-tracking was used to determine the foraging behaviour and habitat use of the serotine bat, Eptesicus serotinus, at two roosts in southern England. The bats commuted an average of 6.5 km to and from distinct foraging sites and used up to five sites per night. Serotines foraged in a wide range of habitats and were able to locate and exploit temporary feeding sites such as recently mown grass. They foraged regularly around white streetlamps and in late summer over cattle pasture on which fresh dung was present. Reproductively active females were strongly philopatric to their day-roost. In contrast, reproductively inactive females, from the same roosts, moved to new day-roosts up to 10km from the site of capture. Serotines used three distinct foraging strategies: short flights, ground feeding, and, predominantly, aerial hawking. Foraging bouts were interspersed with resting phases, with individuals roosting alone on walls of houses or in trees close to foraging sites. It is concluded that serotines are well adapted to an anthropogenic environment. They are strongly philopatric to roosts in human habitations, in close proximity to a range of feeding sites where they can take advantage of favourable land management practices. © 1996 The Zoological Society of London.