The Greater Horseshoe Bat is quite a large and rare bat that is found mainly in the south west of England in meadows and woodland clearings where it hunts for insects. The bat’s name comes from a horseshoe-shaped flap situated around its nostrils. The Greater Horseshoe Bat is related to the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

The Greater Horseshoe Bat has a body the size of a small pear. It has soft fluffy-looking fur on its back which is a rusty brown colour and the underside is grey-brown. Its wings are dark grey and quite broad. The Greater Horseshoe Bat is a slow and skilful flier that beats its wings quite slowly.

In summer Greater Horseshoe Bats often roost in buildings such as churches, barns and large old houses. They pick roosting places which have large entrance holes and large roof spaces, especially when those roof spaces have been warmed by the sun. When they roost they hang down by their feet and wrap their wings around their bodies. They leave their roosts about an hour after sunset and hunt for food for most of the night.  In winter they hibernate in caves, mines, cellars and tunnels and sometimes on warm winter nights they go out of hibernation to feed and to drink water.