The bat colony, numbering around 600 individuals, primarily Greater Mouse-eared bats, which nests each summer under the roofs of the Sainte-Irénée church in Châteauroux-les-Alpes, was the subject of an information evening on September 25. Held at the village's community hall, the event welcomed residents and visitors from surrounding towns to learn about the Voltigeuses de la nuit project.
Launched in early 2025, scientific monitoring has already yielded valuable insights into the bats' behavior. Through telemetry, three flight paths have been identified, one extending for 1.5 km. The bats' hunting territories range west to Ancelle via the Coupa pass, and east to the Guillestrois region. They favor recently mown meadows, which facilitate their ground-level hunting of orthopterans.
The study of bat movements has also helped understand the collective departures observed in spring when hundreds of individuals leave the colony. Secondary roosts, both artificial and natural, have been located using telemetry, highlighting the importance of protecting not only the main colony but also these refuges.
The educational component of the project reached 130 students from schools in Châteauroux and Embrun, from kindergarten to 5th grade, during the 2025-2026 school year. Park rangers led classroom sessions and practical workshops, including building bat boxes and counting animals.
Olivier Lefrançois, a park ranger, emphasized the positive reception of the project by the local community. The evening was a success, with many locals attending, including students and their parents, as well as the screening of the film Les ailes du maquis in the presence of its director, Tanguy Stoecklé. A new film focusing on the Châteauroux-les-Alpes colony is planned for late 2027.
