No Stakes Needed: A Guide to Bat-Friendly Site Work

Posted on October 30, 2024

With Halloween just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to highlight some real-life information about our winged neighbours – the bats. While they often appear in spooky decorations this time of year, bats are vital to our ecosystems and are legally protected across the UK. When working on sites with potential bat habitats, understanding the protections and necessary precautions can help ensure a safe environment for both workers and wildlife.

Here’s a practical guide on how to safely and legally navigate work near these protected animals. After all, the real mystery about bats isn’t in their Halloween myths, but in the special habitats they need to survive year-round.

Key Facts About UK Bats

Diversity and Protection: The UK is home to 18 bat species (17 of which breed locally), and all are protected by UK and European legislation due to their vulnerable populations.
Habitual Roosting: Bats tend to return to the same roosts year after year, which means roosting sites are protected by law even if bats aren’t currently present.
Common Species: The most frequently encountered UK bat is the Pipistrelle, a tiny bat species measuring only 40mm and weighing around 5 grams.

Recognising Bat Habitats

Bats may inhabit various locations such as:

Holes and crevices in mature trees, roof spaces, and building walls.
Bridges, caves, tunnels, and abandoned railway structures.
Almost any mature tree or building could host a bat roost.

Indicators of bat activity include:

Smooth, stained areas around potential roost entrances.
Bat droppings: Dark brown or black, 4-8 mm in length, resembling mouse droppings but brittle when crushed (made mostly of insect remnants).
Distinctive Odours: Established roosts can emit a sharp, musky smell due to guano and the bats themselves.
Displaced Insect Parts: Moth wings are often found around roosts as bats consume the body of the insect but discard wings.

Bats are able to squeeze into spaces as small as 15 mm, so even narrow openings could serve as entry points to their roosts.

Why Take Action?

Failing to adhere to bat protection laws can lead to severe consequences. In the UK, it’s a criminal offense to:

Kill, injure, or handle a bat without a license.
Disturb or damage bat roosts, regardless of whether bats are currently present.
Block access to roosts.

Penalties for these offenses include fines up to £5,000 per bat or up to six months’ imprisonment. By understanding and following legal requirements, businesses can avoid legal repercussions and contribute to bat conservation.

Actions to Take if Bats or Roosts Are Found

If you find a bat or roosting site during work, stop all activities in the area immediately and notify a supervisor. A bat survey will likely be necessary, and specific mitigation measures may need to be implemented, such as:

Roost Creation or Restoration: Build or enhance roosts to replace or improve bat habitats.
Installing Bat Boxes or Tubes: Provides shelter for bats in crevices or new walls.
Creating Bat Attics: Large, insulated voids offer ample roosting space.
Bat Squeeze Boxes: Reduces airflow to create a crevice-style roost for certain species.
Phased Work Approach: When modifying a roost site, conduct phased work to limit disturbance. Screens can separate active bat areas from ongoing construction.
Cautious Demolition: Demolish structures carefully in sections, leaving each overnight to allow any trapped bats a chance to escape.

What Not to Do

Avoid Direct Contact: Bats are highly delicate creatures and handling them can easily cause harm. Additionally, it is illegal to touch or handle bats without the proper authorisation.

By implementing these practices, your team can work safely and legally while contributing to the conservation of one of the UK’s most fascinating and ecologically valuable animals

Support with Bat-Friendly Site Work

If you require support or assistance, please contact Courtley H&S on 0151 545 0497. Our friendly experts are here to help. For non-urgent advice or support, please email [email protected].