Crevice-type bat boxes provide a safe habitat for bats in a forest.

Bat Caves Aren't Just for Batman: How These Cozy Nest Boxes Could Save a Species

Lena Kashyap in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how innovative nest boxes are providing crucial shelter for the elusive forest-dwelling barbastelle bat and what it means for conservation efforts."

For many forest-dwelling creatures, the loss of trees with natural cavities—holes and bark crevices—is a significant threat to their habitat. These natural shelters, often created by woodpeckers, are essential for animals like bats, providing refuge from predators and sites for breeding and raising their young.

Unfortunately, the formation of natural cavities in trees is a slow process, often outpaced by forestry practices that remove dead or dying trees, which are prime locations for these shelters. This loss of habitat poses a serious challenge to the survival of bat populations.

To combat this, researchers have been exploring innovative solutions, including the development of specialized nest boxes that mimic the natural crevices bats prefer. One such project focuses on the forest-dwelling western barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), an endangered species that requires specific types of shelters to thrive. This article delves into the findings of a recent study on the effectiveness of these crevice-type nest boxes in providing suitable habitats for barbastelle bats.

Why Crevice-Type Nest Boxes are a Game-Changer for Barbastelle Bats

Crevice-type bat boxes provide a safe habitat for bats in a forest.

Traditional bat boxes often fall short when it comes to attracting barbastelle bats. These bats prefer narrow crevices and splits in broadleaved trees like oaks, beeches, and hornbeams. They often seek shelter under loose bark or in the forks of tree trunks, favoring dead or dying trees. This preference makes it challenging to provide suitable artificial shelters.

Recognizing this specific need, researchers designed crevice-type nest boxes to mimic the natural roosting spots of barbastelle bats. These boxes feature:

Narrow Crevices: The design includes narrow vertical spaces (crevices) that imitate the natural cracks the bats prefer.
Specific Dimensions: The boxes are carefully sized (80 cm high, 16 cm wide, with a 2 cm crevice) to accommodate the bats comfortably.
Durable Materials: Constructed from sturdy boards, these boxes are built to withstand the elements and provide long-term shelter.

By replicating the conditions of natural crevices, these nest boxes offer a more attractive alternative for barbastelle bats, potentially increasing their chances of finding suitable shelter in managed forests.

Ensuring a Future for Barbastelle Bats Through Innovative Conservation

The success of crevice-type nest boxes highlights the importance of understanding the specific needs of endangered species and tailoring conservation efforts accordingly. By providing suitable habitats in transformed forests, these innovative shelters offer a promising solution for the protection and study of barbastelle bats. This approach can be extended to other species facing habitat loss, paving the way for more effective and targeted conservation strategies.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.25225/fozo.v67.i3-4.a12.2018, Alternate LINK

Title: Occupation Of Crevice-Type Nest-Boxes By The Forest-Dwelling Western Barbastelle Bat Barbastella Barbastellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

Subject: Animal Science and Zoology

Journal: Folia Zoologica

Publisher: Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Authors: Alek Rachwald, Iwona Gottfried, Tomasz Gottfried, Marta Szurlej

Published: 2018-12-01

Everything You Need To Know

What makes the crevice-type nest boxes particularly effective for barbastelle bats compared to traditional bat boxes?

Traditional bat boxes often fail to attract barbastelle bats because these bats have very specific roosting preferences. They favor narrow crevices and splits found in broadleaved trees like oaks, beeches, and hornbeams. Crevice-type nest boxes are designed to directly mimic these natural crevices with narrow vertical spaces, specific dimensions (80 cm high, 16 cm wide, with a 2 cm crevice), and durable materials. This design provides a more suitable and attractive shelter, addressing the specific needs of the barbastelle bats more effectively than conventional designs.

Why is the loss of natural cavities in trees a significant threat to forest-dwelling animals, and how does this impact the barbastelle bat specifically?

The loss of trees with natural cavities, such as holes and bark crevices, is a significant threat to forest-dwelling creatures because these cavities provide crucial shelter from predators and safe locations for breeding and raising young. For the barbastelle bat, this loss is especially critical. These bats depend on these natural crevices for roosting. Forestry practices, which often remove dead or dying trees (prime locations for cavities), exacerbate the problem, reducing the availability of suitable habitats and threatening the survival of barbastelle bat populations.

How do the dimensions of crevice-type nest boxes contribute to their effectiveness in providing habitat for the barbastelle bat?

The dimensions of the crevice-type nest boxes play a crucial role in mimicking the natural roosting spots preferred by the barbastelle bat. These boxes are carefully sized at 80 cm high, 16 cm wide, with a 2 cm crevice. This specific sizing allows the bats to comfortably fit within the narrow spaces that resemble the crevices and splits they would naturally seek in broadleaved trees. This design makes the boxes more attractive and suitable for the barbastelle bats compared to alternatives.

What materials are crevice-type nest boxes constructed from, and why is this important for the barbastelle bat conservation?

Crevice-type nest boxes are constructed from sturdy boards, designed to withstand various weather conditions and ensure the longevity of the shelter. The use of durable materials is essential for the success of barbastelle bat conservation because these boxes need to provide a safe and stable habitat over an extended period. This ensures the barbastelle bats have reliable roosting locations for breeding, raising their young, and seeking refuge from predators, contributing to their overall survival and conservation efforts.

How can the success of crevice-type nest boxes be applied to the conservation of other species facing habitat loss?

The success of crevice-type nest boxes in providing habitat for the barbastelle bat highlights the importance of understanding the specific needs of endangered species and tailoring conservation efforts accordingly. This approach can be extended to other species facing habitat loss by identifying their unique habitat requirements and designing custom solutions. This might involve creating artificial habitats that mimic natural shelters, such as specific types of nest boxes or other structures that replicate crucial elements of their environment, paving the way for more effective and targeted conservation strategies for a broader range of species.