Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
LATCHY  
#1 Posted : 26 February 2014 10:52:13(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LATCHY

We are starting a constrcution project and the survey has identified potential areas for bat roosting, I ask this very cautuiosly are bats protected under legislation and will it affect the project. We are not removing trees or buildings where these area have been identified, advice plaese
John M  
#2 Posted : 26 February 2014 11:00:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John M

Yes - bats are protected as indeed are their breeding sites and roosts. Download The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and note Reg. 41 See also note Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 . Penalties are severe if found guilty of breaching. Jon
SP900308  
#3 Posted : 26 February 2014 11:21:23(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

LATCHY, Add to the project risk register (finance and programme) and good luck! Simon
John J  
#4 Posted : 26 February 2014 12:06:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John J

Latchy, You are looking at £5000 fine per bat and possible imprisonment if they are disturbed.
LATCHY  
#5 Posted : 26 February 2014 12:10:37(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LATCHY

John J wrote:
Latchy, You are looking at £5000 fine per bat and possible imprisonment if they are disturbed. Hi John, when you say disturbed, woken from sleep? or habitat destroyed can you please explain, thanks, also is this all bats or certain species? thanks
Steve e ashton  
#6 Posted : 26 February 2014 12:35:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve e ashton

Latchy: There one or two bat specialists out there who are licensed to disturb and / or relocate bat roosts... But it ain't easy (or cheap!). One solution for a project I was involved with was constructing a dedicated battery (?) at the edge of site and moving the roost en masse. I can put you in touch with a couple of firms who employ batmen if you need specialist support (PM me) but I think they are mostly Scotland...). As I recall - all species are protected. And some species (Audubons?) are more likely than others to be carrying Rabies which is a risk to be considered (but not feared with the right controls) and communicated to all on site. (I believe a Fife batperson contracted and died from rabies 5 or 6 years ago...).
Steve e ashton  
#7 Posted : 26 February 2014 12:39:14(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Steve e ashton

Sorry it was angus not fife, and it was all of 11 years ago! He was the first person in the UK to die from rabies in 100 years after he was bitten by a bat in Angus in 2002.
A Kurdziel  
#8 Posted : 26 February 2014 12:49:15(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

LATCHY I know someone who can give informal advice (they are a zoologist and have worked with bats and have advised the government on bat policy) but they are not a member of the relevant chartered body so they cannot provide a formal survey. PM me if you want me to contact them for you.
SP900308  
#9 Posted : 26 February 2014 13:11:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308

Some of the proposals for bat mitigation I have experienced: Bat tunnels (to guide bats safely across a new highway from one side to another where tree removal took place); Heated bat incubators and ongoing monitoring; New tunnel for bat relocation; New lighting system to prevent re-roosting. From experience, bat mitigation is definately higher up the pecking order than general health and safety considerations 'through design'. Actually same goes for most ecology.
John J  
#10 Posted : 26 February 2014 13:28:19(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John J

LATCHY wrote:
John J wrote:
Latchy, You are looking at £5000 fine per bat and possible imprisonment if they are disturbed. Hi John, when you say disturbed, woken from sleep? or habitat destroyed can you please explain, thanks, also is this all bats or certain species? thanks
Basically it is illegal to kill, injure or disturb bats, obstruct access to bat roosts, damage or disturb roosts. All bats and you've picked the wrong time of year to discover it. Bats will now be heading to the maternity roost and disturbing them will kill the young. I doubt if any licenced bat handler is going to move them until summer but more likely winter when they leave the roost.
LATCHY  
#11 Posted : 26 February 2014 14:36:05(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
LATCHY

John J wrote:
LATCHY wrote:
John J wrote:
Latchy, You are looking at £5000 fine per bat and possible imprisonment if they are disturbed. Hi John, when you say disturbed, woken from sleep? or habitat destroyed can you please explain, thanks, also is this all bats or certain species? thanks
Basically it is illegal to kill, injure or disturb bats, obstruct access to bat roosts, damage or disturb roosts. All bats and you've picked the wrong time of year to discover it. Bats will now be heading to the maternity roost and disturbing them will kill the young. I doubt if any licenced bat handler is going to move them until summer but more likely winter when they leave the roost. Thank you to all who responded the information is very helpful thought provoking
Zimmy  
#12 Posted : 26 February 2014 20:00:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Zimmy

If you wake a bat this time of year they will starve to death. End of. That is why they sleep... food in very short supply. Keep away please.
sidestep45  
#13 Posted : 27 February 2014 11:57:28(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
sidestep45

Seek the advice of an expert I have already noted that some of the advice you have been offered on here is not quite correct and could be misleading
Users browsing this topic
Guest
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.