In Estonia, the Environmental Agency and the Estonian Teriology Society have launched a voluntary monitoring program to research the hibernating bats found in various hidden spaces during winter. While bats are commonly seen flying around during the summer months, they seek out cooler places to hibernate, such as cellars, garages, and cold storages as temperatures drop.

One particular cellar located in Antsla municipality has served as a wintering site for bats for years, as it maintains a consistently cool temperature and experiences little human disturbance. According to Ilmar Uibopuu, a volunteer bat tracker, they have been observing different species of bats, including the brown long-eared bat, with some of them being spotted for the first time in 2022. Notably, another species they initially sought is no longer present at the site this year.

Although bats may occasionally awaken during hibernation and leave their wintering sites, the volunteers were still able to observe a bat that had recently changed its hibernation location. Uibopuu recalls his first experience with bats back in 2013, highlighting the emotional impact of witnessing them in their natural habitat and the ongoing commitment to studying and preserving these important species in Estonia's ecosystem.