Bats are found throughout Scotland, including on many of the islands. Shetland they occur as vagrants only. Ten bat species occur in Scotland, five of which are considered to be common or widespread and five are considered rare or range-restricted.
In Scotland, the number of bat species living in an area generally decreases the further north and west you travel. In northern Scotland, bats contend with long, cold winters which make for longer hibernation times than in England and Wales. Shorter summers, and relatively few hours of darkness for foraging during summer months, make the conditions inhospitable for many of the species commonly found in more southerly areas of the UK.
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