Of dwarfs and greater mouse-ears
Heidelberg Castle is the most important winter habitat for bats in northern Baden. It is home to the pipistrelle bat, which only weighs as much as two sugar cubes, as well as the greater mouse-eared bat, which, with a wingspan of 40 cm, is the largest native bat species. During the winter months, the bats hang in the cracks in the walls and the small holes in the ceilings of the casemates, towers and some castle structures. If their hibernation is disturbed, they will swarm out and lose their winter fat, which can be deadly for them.