INBO designs bunker for hibernating bats
A new bunker for hibernating bats has been integrated into a newly constructed buffer dyke along the port of Antwerp in Verrebroek. The Department of Mobility and Public Works, Maritime Access Division, built the bunker in accordance with the Species Protection Plan for the Port of Antwerp. INBO was responsible for the design.
Bats need a cool, stable temperature in winter. The exact conditions that bats prefer vary from species to species. Some species hibernate in the cavity walls of houses, while others need more buffered conditions and higher humidity, such as in forts, quarries or bunkers.
The problem is often that the conditions required by bats do not correspond to the requirements of heritage buildings. Newly constructed buildings can therefore be a valuable addition.
Until now, the success of the buildings constructed has been mixed. INBO has been conducting research into the optimal conditions for bats to hibernate, both in historic buildings and in new constructions. The knowledge gained has been brought together in a new concept that can better provide the variety of conditions required for multiple species within a single new building. Drijdijck is a good location for such a structure, because the bats search for food nearby in the summer and can discover the building. The forts on the left bank of the Scheldt are often no longer suitable for hibernating bats due to other activities taking place there.
Images: INBO
