Bats (Pekapeka): How We Can Help This Endangered Species

Photo of a long-tailed bat by Colin O'Donnell

Pekapeka, or bats, are Aotearoa’s only native land mammals. There are two existing species, the long-tailed bat (pekapeka-tou-roa) and the lesser short-tailed bat (pekapeka-tou-poto). Bats were once common and extremely widespread throughout the country; however, they have now grown scarce due to predation and habitat loss.

The long-tailed bat is distributed across mainland New Zealand, as well as Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands, Stewart Island and Kapiti Island. Within Auckland, they have been recorded in the Waitākere Ranges, Riverhead, Pakiri, Swanson and the Hunua Ranges. There has been no official record of bats living in Kaipātiki, however, our bush areas provide an excellent potential habitat for them. The short-tailed bat is seen less commonly, and only in isolated strands of old native forest, which are becoming increasingly fragmented and rare.

Pekapeka are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and sleep during the day. They are highly active creatures, with the ability to fly up to 60km per hour and will often travel more than 100km from their roost sites. They will usually roost in large, old canopy trees (such as totara, puriri, rimu or pukatea) either underneath the bark or in hollow cavities. They also may roost in trees located on the banks of streams, rivers and ponds, such as willows. Bats are social animals, with groups of around 10–50 feeding and roosting together in close-knit colonies.

Their diet consists of flying insects such as mosquitoes, midges, moths and beetles. Bats feed while flying and use their echolocation abilities to identify food while in the air, sending out high-frequency sound pulses and listening for echoes that bounce off nearby objects. This allows them to hunt efficiently in complete darkness and avoid obstacles while flying at speed.

Roughly the length of a human thumb, pekapeka’s bodies are 5–6 centimetres from nose to tail. They have a wingspan of nearly 30 centimetres, helping them to fly and manoeuvre efficiently. They weigh between 8–11 grams and have dark brown/black fur, which helps them blend into the shadows of the forest.

Pekapeka play an important role within our native ecosystems, as they are important seed dispersers and pollinators. They are the only known native pollinator of Te pua o Te Rēinga (parasitic wood rose), meaning the plant relies on the bat’s pollination to survive. They also help to pollinate a range of other native species, such as kiekie and pōhutukawa, and they’re often more effective pollinators than birds. Pekapeka also disperse native seed through their droppings, which helps to establish and restore plant species in different areas.

There are references to bats in Māori folklore, as pekapeka are often associated with hōkioi, a mythical bird that flies at night. Hōkioi are viewed as a bad omen, as they often foretell death or disaster. Bats are more likely to be spotted during spring and summer, as they increase their feeding activity throughout the night during the warmer months. They are most commonly spotted moving against a clear twilight sky just after dusk. During winter, bats are far less active, and when temperatures drop, they may enter a state of semi-hibernation known as torpor, to conserve energy. They will usually only give birth to one offspring each year and will keep their pups close in order to nurture them carefully. 

Unfortunately, due to introduced predation and habitat degradation, both of our native bat species are at risk. The short-tailed bat/pekapeka-tou-poto is considered nationally vulnerable, while the long-tailed bat/ pekapeka-tou-roa is considered nationally critical, the highest threat ranking under New Zealand’s conservation status system. This means they face an immediate high risk of extinction. The main threat our native bats face is predation. Key predators to pekapeka include cats (both feral and pets), stoats, possums, rats and even native ruru (morepork). Their habit of roosting in tree cavities makes them especially vulnerable, as these areas are easily accessible for predators. Pekapeka are also threatened by habitat loss, as large amounts of the old native forests that they once called home have since been cleared and logged. These factors have both contributed to the decline in bat populations and have meant that bats are now becoming incredibly rare.

The good news is that there are ways we can help our native pekapeka. Predator control is crucial for protecting populations. Bats cannot be moved to pest-free sites, so if effective pest control and trapping don’t continue, they are likely to go extinct. We can also help by looking after areas that bats may inhabit. One colony of bats can use up to 100 roost trees within their home range and cycle through their preferred roosts. Protecting standing dead trees and old or large trees with cavities or loose bark helps pekapeka by maintaining their natural habitat. Work has also been done to create man-made roosting cavities in large trees, boosting habitat. Monitoring is very important, so reporting any possible bat sightings can help build our knowledge about bats and their habitats.

You can borrow bat detectors from us free of charge and go on a bat detection walk in your local reserve. Bats use echolocation, which is beyond our hearing range, but bat detectors convert them into something we can hear. Bats are more active in spring and summer, so this is the perfect time to go on a bat hunt. Choose a fine warm night right after sunset as this is when bats start emerging from their roosts. Open areas along bush edges with old, large trees are a good spot to search.

Email us at team@pfk.org.nz  to borrow a bat detector, get rat or possum traps or to get involved with your local reserve group. 

For additional resources, check out these bat resources from the Department of Conservation to learn more, including a map of where pekapeka have been spotted!