Bat question

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by canis.rufus

Hi Beekeeper,

Just to add to what has already been said, I am slightly concerned that you will be working in the loftspace with the bats.

As has been mentioned, any disturbance to a bat roost is a serious offense, and this can even include simply entering the space. Therefore, by working in there (and I have no idea of the nature of the work), you could potentially land yourself in hot water.

Your local council should have a department which deals with protected species (normally regarding planning applications) and I would strongly advise that you get in contact with them before proceeding further (although provision varies by area, and unless you speak to the right person you might get fobbed off with wrong information ).

I understand your concern about informing the home owner, but unless a roost in known it cannot be protected. If you are not sure, you could contact your bat group and let them approach the owner; as they are probably experienced at dealing with these situations.


Best of luck - Toby.

Id second what toby says under the CRoW act it is an offence to intentionally, recklessly or negligently disturb a bat roost so depending on the work you are doing you could run foul of this even if you dont intend to disturb them. (and that includes shining lights etc at them)

also re the rabies - bat rabies is paralytic not furious - that is they curl up and die , they dont fly arround in a rage biting people - there is an infintesimal risk from their droppings but it would have to be fresh and you would have to get it in a cut or ingest it - neither is likely so long as you wear gloves and wash your hands before eating

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I recommend sending a note to your county biological records centre even just saing 'bat roost' (species uncertain), the date and the grid ref (or address)

Thank you Gill for the advice, i will do that

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by PMG

As others have said - all of the above thoughts would turn out to be illegal and constitute disturbance to the colony - and the colony as a whole is vastly important as has already been said cos of the slow rate of breeding - also causing them poss to leave at a time when they are on the very edge of - or even begun to hibernate - all makes the photography bit a No-no

You're best bet while notifying your local bat group is then to either join the group and find out who in the group is taking in and rehabilitating bats and ask them would they mind letting you photograph the bats they have. Our local chappie has injured bats that he keeps - some cannot be released - they are too disabled to live a normal bat life. He uses the more relaxed easy going one's for education, school visits and showing prior to bat walks with the local ranger service.

Well done for noticing them and having a quiet think about what to do next to protect them and where they are roosting

Pauline

Thanks for the informative reply Pauline, if i do take any photographs, it will be with the aid of an Infra-red light source as i would really like to have them identified, just in case they are one of the rarer species, due to the heigt of the roof, from ceiling level to the apex is around 12 feet so they are well out of the way and i do not actually have too much to do near them, unfortunately, i am not the only one working in the house, the builder has to clean out straw insulation between the ceiling joists as it is a fire risk and replace it was fibre glass so he is also going to be working there for considerably longer than i am, he does appreciate bats and would do his best not to disturb them, the plumbers have already finished in that area so one bit of good news at least. When i was working there today they all seemed quite relaxed, clustering together, one on the outside of the colony seemed to be quietly knawing at one of the roof timbers, they are such beautiful creatures.

Ian

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by canis.rufus

Hi Beekeeper,

Your local council should have a department which deals with protected species (normally regarding planning applications) and I would strongly advise that you get in contact with them before proceeding further (although provision varies by area, and unless you speak to the right person you might get fobbed off with wrong information ).

I understand your concern about informing the home owner, but unless a roost in known it cannot be protected. If you are not sure, you could contact your bat group and let them approach the owner; as they are probably experienced at dealing with these situations.


Best of luck - Toby.

Toby, thank you also for your reply, after tomorrow, i will be finished in the part of the loft that the bats are inhabiting, the loft is divided into 4 seperate areas so i wont be disturbing them at all once i get into the second part.

I cannot mention at the moment anything to the council as some of the work being carried out should be subject to planning but the owner is doing it without and if i mentioned anything it will cause serious problems for her and my finances as i have a lot of money tied up in the job and my name will be mud, so that is a definate no no.

However, as Pauline and Gill have suggested i will inform the local bat group and the county biological records centre of the colony so they can add to their records.

regards and thanks for help

Ian

[Beekeeper]

Just a quick update, according to a neighbour the bats are Pipistrell, they have also being inhabiting the roof spaces of the other 3 cottages, one neighbour contacted the Bat society or whatever they were called and someone came and removed them and took them way up country somewhere for release.

Taking to my pal with the wildlife garden yesterday, he mentioned that he sees Long Eared Bats flying over his garden some nights, i rather fancy that those are a rare species.

Ian