Bad year for the Main-Spessarter Mausohren

The church in Wolfsmünster is home to one of the largest bat colonies of the Great Mouse-eared Mouse (Myotis myotis) in the Main-Spessart district. The number of animals has been documented here since 1987. The annual census took place in July; the sad result: Many young animals did not make it this year. This emerges from a press release from the Spessart Nature Park.

“We as a region have a very special responsibility for the mouse-eared bat,” says Oliver Kaiser, Managing Director of the Spessart Nature Park eV Because Main-Spessart has more colonies of this bat species than any other district in Bavaria. In July, experts checked the area in Wolfsmünster and counted the animals. Matthias Hammer, head of the coordination office for bat protection in Northern Bavaria, and employees of the nature conservation authorities in Karlstadt and Würzburg were also present. They were supported by the local church keeper who has been helping bat protection for many years.

One of the reasons for the success in the Spessart, according to Hammer, is that the mouse-ears like to hunt ground beetles in deciduous forests. The Spessart is very productive there, it can fill many large colonies. Unfortunately, 2021 is a rather bad bat year; only 300 animals could be recorded in Wolfsmünster. One reason are the rainy, cold nights when there were only a few insects. ?? The mothers of bats then have too little milk, the young become weak and cannot get through ??, says the expert. In the past dry summers, however, the temperatures were too high. ?? The animals then almost burn up behind the tiles in the church roofs, which also weakens them. ?? It is therefore important that the bats can temporarily move to other roosts.

Network of quarters

The mouse-eared females are actually imprinted on the roof structure in which they were born. They keep coming back there ?? for up to 15 years ?? and raise one cub at a time. “However, there are phases,” said Hammer, “when they switch to another quarter.” But how do the animals even know other accommodations? It is believed that the females mix with animals from other colonies while hunting and then spend the day elsewhere.

Owls in the same roost, according to the biologist, could be a problem, for example; as well as non-coordinated construction work or other obstacles. ?? At the Scherenburg in Gemünden, a festival spotlight was placed in the entry opening in 2000. ?? The animals had evaded to Wolfsmünster. ?? 1600 animals were counted in Wolfsmünster ??, says Hammer. The more roosts a bat species have, the more stable the network becomes.

“Bat protection in Bavaria is predominantly a voluntary service,” said Hammer; one reason is that the official nature conservation experts have much else to do. Oliver Kaiser thinks that the cooperation in nature conservation in Main-Spessart is very good, even if there are still too few positions in official environmental and nature conservation.

The role of the churches in bat protection is also important. “These have a role model function,” said Hammer. In the Main-Spessart district, more than 50 churches were examined for bats and other protected animal species for the first time this year. This collection was commissioned by the Lower Nature Conservation Authority (UNB) in Karlstadt. Church keepers and Messner are positive about the bats. According to Hammer, it is important to keep talking.

Refurbishment is possible

If you have bats on your house, you are not allowed to drive the animals away or even destroy the area under the Nature Conservation Act. However, “bats do not prevent necessary remedial measures,” says the biologist. You can always bring both issues under one roof, but should get in touch with experts at an early stage. ?? The first point of contact are the UNB in ​​Karlstadt and the bat consultant for the district Uwe Scheurich. ??

Hammer regrets that people are unfortunately not sufficiently aware of the environment in practice. ?? Anyone who has bats at home can consider themselves lucky ??, says Hammer. The animals eat many insects such as mosquitoes; their droppings are good fertilizers. ?? Many like swallows and black redstart as heralds of spring and voices of summer. The bats are the night shift, so to speak, but unfortunately they have a poorer reputation ?, ends the press release.