Bechstein's Bat
EN

Bechstein's Bat

Myotis bechsteinii

UnknownVUEUVUEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechstein's_bat

Overview

Bechstein's bat is a species of vesper bat found in Europe and western Asia, living in extensive areas of woodland.

Bechstein's Bat faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss and fragmentation of old-growth deciduous forests, which provide essential roosting sites in tree cavities. Human disturbance of roost sites, particularly in buildings and caves used for hibernation, along with intensive forest management practices that remove dead and hollow trees, further threaten this forest-dependent species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Bechstein's bat can be found in the following countries: Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,...

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Pond Bat

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Geoffroy's BatVU

Geoffroy's Bat

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Serotine BatVU

Serotine Bat

Eptesicus serotinus

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Greater Mouse-eared BatEN

Greater Mouse-eared Bat

Myotis myotis

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Bechstein's Bat classified as Endangered?
Bechstein's Bat is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Bechstein's Bat faces severe population declines primarily due to the loss and fragmentation of old-growth deciduous forests, which provide essential roosting sites in tree cavities. Human disturbance of roost sites, particularly in buildings and caves used for hibernation, along with intensive forest management practices that remove dead and hollow trees, further threaten this forest-dependent species.
Where does Bechstein's Bat live?
Bechstein's Bat occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Bechstein's Bat?
The main threats to Bechstein's Bat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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