Attic roosts for bats

A home for the seasons

Bats are among the most endangered animal species in Central Europe. The loss of refuges such as maternity roosts and winter roosts, as well as the decline in their hunting grounds—often combined with the use of insecticides—makes their survival considerably more difficult. Many bat species are classified as endangered, critically endangered or even threatened with extinction on the Red List of endangered mammals in Austria and Styria. They are strictly protected and are considered important indicators of healthy ecosystems.

Suitable roosts have become rare, particularly in densely built-up urban areas. This is precisely where attics come into play. Attics provide ideal habitats for many bat species: they are dry, sheltered from the wind, quiet and offer sufficient space for roosting and hiding. Unfortunately, many of these areas are no longer accessible to the animals due to renovations or modern construction methods. This makes it all the more important to create new attic roosts or make existing ones accessible. 

At the University of Graz, targeted efforts are being made as part of the biodiversity strategy to create suitable roosting sites for bats. This is because unused attic spaces in the old university buildings could play an important role as summer or winter roosts, or simply as a sheltered retreat. Even a suitable entrance hole and an undisturbed area in the attic can be enough to attract a bat colony. Such roosts are often only accepted after some time, but once bats have settled in, they return year after year for many years to come.

These measures create a quiet sanctuary on campus, high above people’s heads. The university is thus making an important contribution to the protection of this endangered species and enhancing biodiversity in the urban environment.