Summer maternity roosts are essential for bat reproduction and survival, yet disturbance and loss of roost sites remain significant threats to UK bat populations.
Disturbance to maternity roosts causes mothers to abandon pups or move them to suboptimal locations, significantly increasing pup mortality. Bat pups are altricial and entirely dependent on their mothers for warming, milk, and protection during the first weeks of life. Cold stress from roost disturbance can be fatal to young pups. Renovation of buildings without prior bat survey risks destroying roosts and injuring or killing occupants. Even low-level disturbance including lights and noise during sensitive periods can reduce colony productivity. The welfare implications of roost disturbance extend across multiple generations.