A rare bat found living in an Auckland verandah is being hailed as a win for pest control efforts.
'Brad the Bachelor' roosting on the verandah Photo: Auckland Council
The native long-tailed bat, dubbed 'Brad the Bachelor' by the Auckland Council, was found by Patumahoe residents settled into a corner between two beams.
The bats are about the size of a thumb and weigh the same as a couple of $2 coins (about 10g).
The species has the highest threat ranking of 'nationally critical', as a consequence of deforestation and predators such as cats and possums.
Long-tailed bats usually roost in trees with 10 to 50 other bats.
The council's senior biodiversity Adviser, Ben Paris, said the bats usually roosted in trees, and it was rare to find them living so close to humans.
He said the bat's ability to live safely on the verandah was a testament to local predator control.
