Rank: Forum user 
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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LATCHY,
Add to the project risk register (finance and programme) and good luck!
Simon
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Rank: Super forum user
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Latchy,
You are looking at £5000 fine per bat and possible imprisonment if they are disturbed.
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Rank: Forum user
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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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...).
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Forum user
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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
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Rank: Super forum user
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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.
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Rank: Forum user
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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
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