The Vallon de l’Urugne site is home to 7 species of bats:
- Little mouse
- Little Rhinolophus
- Stilt-eared bat
- Great mouse
- Barbastelle
- Bechstein’s Murmur
- Great rhinolophus (rarer)
Chauve SourisChauve Souris
The Rhinolophe bat
A must-see animal in the Lot ValleyDiscover
the Great Rhinolophus
Treed landscape on the "red sandstone" walking trail in the Lot Valley.Treed landscape on the "red sandstone" walking trail in the Lot Valley.
Great Rhinolophe, bat of the Lot Valley.Great Rhinolophe, bat of the Lot Valley.
Where is she hiding?
This species is, as its name suggests, the largest of the European rhinolophs.
Great Rhinolophs are found in caves in winter and in the attics of buildings in summer. Rarer than the Little Rhinolophus, it can be found in preserved, little-polluted landscapes and in areas where extensive livestock farming and hedgerows are the norm.
What's his lifestyle like?
The Vallon de l’Urugne is one of the main wintering sites for the Great Rhinolophus in Occitanie. This bat hibernates from September-October to April, and when it wakes up in spring, gathers in large colonies. The female then gives birth to a single young in late spring or early summer.
It has a very particular hunting technique, called “affut “: it remains alone, hanging upside down from a branch, waiting for its prey to pass by. Since 1960, this species of bat has seen its population plummet, due to the brutal degradation of its natural habitat. The Vallon de l’Urugne is an ideal area for its preservation.
Bat - Vallon de l'UrugneBat - Vallon de l'Urugne|
DID YOU KNOW?
The Vallon de l’Urugne is now classified as a “Natura 2000 zone” to preserve certain species and ensure that they are monitored.
- Where to see Great Rhinolophus bats?
You have to be lucky to spot bats in the Lot Valley… However, you’ll find it easier to see them in the Vallon de l’Urugne at dusk.
- Are bats dangerous?
No !
They’re not dangerous, and there’s no risk of attack.
They are very timid and will flee if you get too close.
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