Life Cycle of a Bat

 


Use these interesting and fun resources to learn about the life cycle of a bat with your children. They are particularly interesting as bats are one of only three mammals in the UK to hibernate (the others being dormice and hedgehogs).

Bats begin to wake up from their hibernation in March. They have to start hunting for food and looking for nesting sites. The female bats will form colonies away from the male bats. They usually give birth to just one baby bat which is called a pup.  Pups sleep curled up under their mother’s wings.

Bats are mammals so they give birth to live young and the pups drink milk. They are the only flying mammal. Their wings are not feathered but are made from stretched skin.

Pups cannot fly when they are born. They only start to fly whey they are around 2 to 3 months old. Once they can fly they will start hunting for their own food and stop drinking their mother’s milk. Bats are only considered adults when they are around 1 year old.

In October the bats will start looking for nesting sites for their winter hibernation. All bats should be curled up asleep in November. 

Life cycle of a bat

Bat Collective Noun Poster

Bat Collective Noun Poster

Did you know that the world's biggest bat colony is found on the outskirts of San Antonio in a place named Bracken Cave, and has more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats? There aren't quite as many bats on this bats collective noun poster, but it's still perfect for displays.

Bat Fact Versus Fiction

Bat Fact Versus Fiction

Bats are very unusual creatures, so it might be tricky for the children to decide which of these interesting facts are true and which are fiction! They need to place each label into either the fact or fiction column on the first page.

Bat Life Cycle Handwriting Worksheet

Bat Life Cycle Handwriting Worksheet

Each of the four handwriting worksheets in this set features a word used to describe the life cycle of a bat, so the children can practise their handwriting skills whilst learning some useful vocabulary too! Choose from colour, or black and white versions below.

Bat Life Cycle Poster 1

Bat Life Cycle Poster 1

Perfect for displaying in the classroom, this lovely poster takes you through the lifecycle of a bat from their birth to becoming an adult. 

Bat Life Cycle Poster 2

Bat Life Cycle Poster 2

Our second bat life cycle poster has a little more detail for each stage and is perfect for older children. 

Bat Life Cycle Sequencing Cards

Bat Life Cycle Sequencing Cards

Here's a fun activity if you're learning about the life cycle of bats. Cut out each picture card (including the arrows and title card) then ask the children to put them into a sequencing display. 

Bat Life Cycle Story Paper

Bat Life Cycle Story Paper

Can the children describe the lifecycle of a bat using our set of story papers? Each story paper has plenty of room for writing.

Bat Vocabulary Worksheet

Bat Vocabulary Worksheet

Can the children match the bat vocabulary with the correct definition? There are some quite tricky words here to learn...

Bats Word Cards

Bats Word Cards

Perfect for displays and vocabulary work, this set of bats word cards includes some of the terminology you will need when studying these fascinating animals and their lifecycle.

Life Cycle Of A Bat Booklet

Life Cycle Of A Bat Booklet

Did you know that bats are the only true flying mammal? Why not find out some more interesting facts about these amazing creatures and their lifecycle and write them in one of our four handy booklets (choose from lined, blank, colour and black and white versions below).

Life Cycle Of A Bat Cloze

Life Cycle Of A Bat Cloze

This bat lifecycle cloze worksheet is an interesting way to learn a little more about the life cycle of these incredible mammals. We've included a number of words to be used to fill in the gaps.

Life Cycle Of A Bat Colouring Page

Life Cycle of a Bat Colouring Page

The children will enjoy colouring in the lovely illustrations on this life cycle of a bat colouring page, including some bats hanging upside down!

A Year in the Life of a Bat

January - February
Bats are all huddled together hibernating in their roosts.

March
Bats will start to emerge from their hibernation and go hunting for food. If there is a cold spell they will go back into a light form of hibernation.

April
Bats will now be moving between nesting sites and hunting for food.

May
The females will start to form colonies and search for suitable nursery sites together. The males roost in a separate site away from the females.

June
Female bats usually give birth to one pup. They feed the pup on their milk. Pups are very small with thin grey fur. They huddle together in the nursery while their mothers go hunting. The males are not involved in raising the pups.

A newborn pup - offspring of a bat

July
The pups are still drinking their mothers’ milk and are either clinging to their mother or huddled together in their nursery.

August
The pups will start learning to fly and begin to hunt for their own insects.

September
Mating season begins and the bats start building up their fat supply for hibernation. Although bats mate in the autumn they only fall pregnant in the spring once they awake from their hibernation.

October
Bats continue building up their fat storage and start searching for roosting sites for the winter months.

November - December
Bats go into hibernation and should stay asleep until March.


More Hibernating Animals

Life Cycle of a Hedgehog
Life Cycle of a Hedgehog

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