Mammals
Greater Mouse-eared Bat
Myotis myotis · also called large mouse-eared bat
Skimming low over a cut meadow at night, a greater mouse-eared bat stops mid-flight to listen, then drops to the grass and seizes a ground beetle that never knew it was being tracked.
Overview
The greater mouse-eared bat, Myotis myotis, is a Least Concern bat found across Europe and parts of the Middle East. Its large size, ground-beetle hunting by listening, and big attic and cave colonies make it one of the most impressive bats of the Old World.
A bat that hunts on foot-sounds
Rather than catching prey in the air, this bat listens for the sounds of insects moving along the ground and then swoops down on them.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across much of its range.
Greater Mouse-eared Bat: common questions
How big is the greater mouse-eared bat?
It is among the largest bats of Europe, with a wingspan of up to around 40 cm.
What does it eat?
It eats large ground beetles and other big insects, locating them by listening for the faint sounds of their movement on the ground.
Where does the greater mouse-eared bat roost?
In summer it forms big colonies in attics, church roofs, and caves, and in winter it hibernates in caves.
Where is the greater mouse-eared bat found?
It lives across Europe and parts of the Middle East.