Bats (mammals we do not treat)

Under the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act, bats have become amongst the most protected animals in Britain. Under this Act it is illegal to:-

• Kill, injure, catch or keep bats
• Damage, destroy or obstruct bat roosts
• Disturb bats while they are roosting, e.g. by entering known roosts or hibernation sites
• Sell, barter or exchange bats, alive or dead

Unlike other small mammals, which are fairly short-lived, bats may live for 30 years. Each female produces no more than one baby a year and not all the offspring survive to maturity. Therefore, any disruption of their habitat has a major adverse impact from which it can take many years to recover. If bats are unwelcome or work is planned in a building suspected of housing bats at any time please contact Natural England (telephone number below). Work will not necessarily be prevented but advice given on the least disturbing way of carrying out the work. If operations have already started when bats or or their roosts are discovered, work must stop and the appropriate Statutory Nature Conservation Organisation contacted at the earliest opportunity.

Many people are completely unaware that they have bats as house-guests. Bats can turn up in unexpected places - inside the home or in the garden. If you find droppings in your loft do not automatically assume you have mice, you may be playing host to a colony of bats. You will rarely see them (except when they fly out at dusk) as most species creep into tiny spaces rather than hang in the open. Gaps behind wall tiles and fascia boards of buildings are often used as well as roof spaces.

Contact details:-

Natural England (previously known as English Nature): National Telephone Number 01733 455000 or local 01635 268881(www.naturalengland.org.uk)

The Bat Conservation Trust (www.bats.org.uk): National Number 0207 627 2629 or local 0118 9015201