Hidden treasures

We’re used to seeing small bats whizzing around at dusk over the summer period, but at this time of year you are more likely to come across one hiding sleepily in a wood-pile or even up the sleeve of a hanging overcoat, as we found a few years ago.

The microbat pictured here was one of a pair rudely disturbed from a state of torpor in a pile of wool-packs in our shed. It’s a Lesser Long-eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi) with its long ears curled down much more than if it were active.

The Lesser Long-eared Bat is at home in a variety of habitats and has a wide distribution covering most of Australia. It has adapted well to both agricultural and urban environments, with a willingness to use a range of different roost sites. However, tree hollows and bark fissures are its main natural roosts and, as with other microbats, scattered paddock trees and bush remnants play an important role as both roosting and foraging sites.

Below is another bat (we think also a Lesser Long-eared) found among some stored timber in the shed at almost the same time last year.

Thanks to Lindy Lumsden from the Arthur Rylah Institute for the identification.