The Otago Regional Council has declared the long-tailed bat as severely threatened in Otago

The country's only native land mammal is under an immediate high risk of extinction in Otago, due to introduced predators, habitat loss, and climate change.

The Department of Conservation says despite being identified in sites at the Catlins and Dart, all long-tailed bat populations require urgent conservation efforts to combat the severe threats.

The council's Biodiversity Scientist, Scott Jarvie, says it's amazing that there have been some sightings, but more information is needed to effectively protect them.