Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection
In the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov National Park, bat boxes - artificial nests for bats - have been installed in areas where the animals lack natural shelter.
Bats typically rest in the hollows of old trees. Such trees are becoming increasingly scarce, so specialists from the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection are installing artificial shelters for the animals. The nest boxes are similar to birdhouses, but they are designed differently. The entrance is a narrow horizontal slit at the bottom of the house. Bats can easily enter, while their natural predators, such as owls or martens, are unable to do so.
Experts believe that the bat boxes in Losiny Ostrov will become a permanent home for bats and help maintain their population. However, the animals will not immediately occupy them. Bats are very wary of new objects. They need time to explore artificial shelters and ensure their safety.
"It's important to note that colonizing nest boxes with bats is a lengthy process, taking years. It's not expected that these artificial shelters will be occupied immediately after the nest boxes are erected. Success is possible if the area around them has a sufficient food supply (an abundance of nocturnal insects during the warm season), and the nest box's design and location are suitable for the bats," noted Denis Vasenkov, PhD, a researcher at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection
Bats play an important role in the city's ecosystem. They hunt insect pests at night and rest in shelters during the day. In the wild, they hide in the hollows of old trees, cracks, or under bark. Here, they hang upside down, clinging to the uneven surface with their hind legs.
From May to July, bats breed. The animals gather in groups while the females carry and feed their young. The groups disband when the young begin to fly and forage for food on their own.
Experts recommend not disturbing bats in parks and green areas. Avoid touching nest boxes, peering inside, or making noise near them to avoid frightening possible residents.
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