LESSER
HORSESHOE BAT Rhinolophus
hipposideros
STATUS: Believed
extinct
Native but now extinct in the county. The Victoria County History (1905) said they occurred ‘in fair numbers’ mainly in caves and old lead mines in the Matlock and Dovedale areas. There have been no confirmed records since then. Lesser horseshoes were reportedly observed hibernating in a cave in the Matlock area within the last 10 years but their presence has not been confirmed. The nearest current colonies occur in North Wales and the far south of Staffordshire.
