Conservation & Ecology
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) UK Bats
We are lucky enough to have eighteen species of bat in the UK, seventeen of which are known to be breeding here - that's almost a quarter of our mammal species.
Every summer, thousands of people venture out to experience the wonder of bats in their natural environment. Sadly, bat populations have suffered severe declines during the past century, but the Bat Conservation Trust and more than 100 local bat groups are working hard to help our bats hang on.
Resident bat species Our resident breeding species are: Alcathoe bat (Myotis alcathoe) Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteinii) Brandt’s bat (Myotis brandti) Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus)
Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii)
Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) Grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus) Leisler’s bat (Nyctalus leisleri)
Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii) Natterer’s bat (Myotis nattereri) Noctule (Nyctalus noctula) Serotine (Eptesicus serotinus)
Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus)
There are a number of other non- resident bat species that occasionally make appearances on our shores having blown over from the continent, notably Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and Parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus).
The Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) was officially declared extinct in 1990, but a solitary individual male has been hibernating in southern England since 2002.
108 I PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 2015
Serotine (Eptesicus serotinus)
5. Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost
Please refer to the legislation for the
precise wording - the above is a brief summary only.
How to Report a Bat Crime Licensing
Licences to permit illegal activities relating to bats and their roost sites can be issued for specific purposes and by specific licensing authorities in each country. These are sometimes called ‘derogation licences’, or ‘European Protected Species licences’, and are issued under the Habitats Regulations. It is an offence not to comply with the terms and conditions of a derogation licence. If you carry out work affecting bats or roosts without a licence, you will be breaking the law.
Who needs to take particular note of the legislation?
- Property owners/householders who have a bat roost in their property
- Woodland owners, arboriculturalists and foresters
- Pest controllers - Planning officers and building surveyors
- Architects, property developers, demolition companies, builders and roofers
Which legislation is relevant for bats and roosts?
- In England and Wales, the relevant legislation is the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) (as amended); the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2000; the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC, 2006); and by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010)
- In Scotland, the key legislation that applies is the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended)
- In Northern Ireland, bats are listed under
Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii)
Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 and, in the Republic of Ireland, under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1976 and Schedule 1 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997.
Defences include:
1. Tending/caring for a bat solely for the purpose of restoring it to health and subsequent release
2. Mercy killing where there is no reasonable hope of recovery (provided that person did not cause the injury in the first place - in which case the illegal act has already taken place)
Penalties on conviction - the maximum fine is £5,000 per incident or per bat (some roosts contain several hundred bats), up to six months in prison, forfeiture of items used to commit the offence, e.g. vehicles, plant, machinery.
The Bat Conservation Trust is the leading NGO solely devoted to the conservation of bats and the landscapes on which they rely.
There is a diverse range of work carried out - both on the ground and behind the scenes - to help secure the future of bats in our changing world.
The Bat Conservation Trust supports over 100 local bat groups and 5000 members and works with volunteers, scientists, industry and government both locally and nationally on a range of projects.
www.bats.org.uk
The National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 is able to offer advice to building and planning professionals, householders with bat roost questions and members of the public who have found injured and grounded bats.
Lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros)
The barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) is rare throughout its range and only a few breeding roosts are known in the UK
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