The low entrance allows the bats easy access and is suitable for the brown long-eared bat, the greater mouse-eared bat and the common pipistrelle. There are seventeen species of bat in the UK, six of which are known to use bat boxes, and they often live in close proximity to humans, using gardens as an important source of food, water and shelter. However, populations have declined significantly during the past century as many natural roosting and feeding sites have been destroyed. You can help to support these small, intriguing creatures by providing a roosting site. Because they need different roosting conditions at different times of the year, bats will often move around on a regular basis to suit their needs.