Estepona expands bat and owl project to combat mosquitoes, insects and other pests

Estepona’s Town hall has extended its environmental program by installing more nesting boxes for bats, European scops owls and bats in green spaces throughout the city. The aim of the project is to increase biodiversity and to help control insects in a natural way.

Local naturalists, from the Sierra Bermeja Naturalist Group (known as Grunsber), requested that artificial refuges be created for these beneficial species. The local council funded the initiative with a grant from the municipality, and Grunsber was the one to implement the project. Local brigades already installed six specially-built nest boxes in Parque de Los Abuelos, and Parque Seghers. The expanded programme will include around 150 nest boxes spread across urban and periurban areas.

The efforts are aimed at creating habitats that are safe for species who often have difficulty finding suitable nesting sites due to urbanization and land use changes.

Natural solutions for pest and mosquito problems

Insects and mosquitoes are the bane of many people’s summer lives. Bats help to reduce their numbers. One bat can eat thousands of insects during a single night. This makes the bat a very effective biological pest control. In Spain, all bat species are protected by both European and national law. Several of them are listed as vulnerable while one is endangered.

The European scops-owl, the smallest nocturnal predator in Spain, does its part by eating larger invertebrates such as moths. The species has been listed as vulnerable in 2021’s Red Book of Spanish Birds. The European scops’ owl and bats are both tolerant of artificial shelters. This makes nest boxes an effective tool for promoting their presence in cities.

According to council representatives, the program is an alternative environmentally friendly treatment for chemical treatments that increases public awareness and local wildlife.

Already, education and conservation are underway

Education activities have already begun. Recent environmental education sessions focused on nest box installation were attended by students of CEIP Federico Garcia Lorca. Students learned about bats, birds of prey, and the ecological importance they play. 

Estepona’s environment teams are also working on local reforestation projects, coastal protection and sustainable city planning. These nesting sites will allow officials to increase the number of protected birds, insect-eating swarming bats in Estepona. 

The Estepona Town Hall website has more information.