Bats in the old bunker: a winter paradise for the flutter animals!

Bats in the old bunker: a winter paradise for the flutter animals!

Geesthacht, Deutschland - In Geesthacht, an inventory was recently carried out in a former reinforced concrete construction, which was once part of Alfred Nobel's dynamite factory. The bunker, a ruin since the end of World War II, has developed into an important quarters for bats. The construction is covered with sand and surrounded by trees, which contributes to the natural camouflage. Inside, a pool offers optimal humidity that is an advantage for the animals.

During the inspection by Jens Gutzmann (Nabu Geesthacht), Holger Siemers (Nabu Mölln) and Matthias Göttsche (bat monitorring Schleswig-Holstein) it was found that a total of 63 bats were counted in the neighborhood in 2024, in 2023 it was 60. The bats get into the bunker through special slots in an entry tower.

habitat and protective measures

In recent years, the bunker has been equipped with stones, a pool and trapezoidal panels, which caused the bat population. Other bunkers are also to be provided with special materials to increase the number of bats. The species based in Geesthacht include water and fringed bats and the brown long ear. In winter, the animals seek sleeping accommodations where they reduce their body temperature and metabolism.

In an air -raiding tunnel on Tesperhuder Straße, only four bats were found in a count. Experts suspect that the light of street lamps could disturb the animals, which is why the lighting is taken into account. The support on the part of the city and the HEREON research center is rated as positive, with the aim of protecting threatened bat species. For interested parties, the 28th bat night will be invited on August 30th, which begins at 8:30 p.m. at the campsite on the beach path.

In another example of the preservation of habitats for bats, an old bunker was rebuilt on a former military site north of Eggebek. Thorsten Roos, head of the environment department, and Matthias Göttsche, bat expert, examined this bunker, which was gutted in 2020. The conversion included the creation of suitable living conditions, including new walls and a water surface of 30 cm high as well as sleeping options for the bats.

The installation of a light barrier and a photo camera can be counted and documented the flight movements of the bats. In 2022, two bats were counted there, and in January 2024 already 17, among which the brown long ear, the fringed bat and the water bat are located, among other things. In a nearby Archepark, which has been home to ten old ammunition bunkers since 2012, the number of bats rose from 2 (2013) to 195 (2024).

The annual bat monitoring, which has been carried out since 2001, shows positive trends in Schleswig-Holstein, where the total number has risen to 11,300 bats. Future plans from the district administration include the redesign of another bunker to an information center, which is intended to serve as a winter quarters all year round.