Wildlife

Bat Maternity Roost Welfare

Bat maternity roosts in buildings require protection during summer months as disturbance can cause abandonment and juvenile mortality.

Key Facts

17 bat species breed in the UK, all protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Maternity roosts are used from May to August when females give birth and raise pups
Pups cannot fly until approximately 6 weeks old making them vulnerable to disturbance
Building renovation during summer can disturb or destroy maternity colonies
Bat surveys are legally required before building work affecting potential roost sites

Welfare Considerations

Disturbing a maternity roost causes the abandonment of young bats that cannot yet fly and will die without maternal feeding. A single disturbance event can cause the deaths of dozens of juvenile bats. Building owners have legal obligations to avoid roost disturbance, and mitigation including providing artificial roost boxes can compensate for unavoidable impacts on lesser roosts.

What You Can Do

Schedule building work outside the maternity season (September-April where possible)
Commission bat surveys before any renovation work on older buildings
Install bat boxes on your property to support local bat populations
Report bat roost disturbance to the Bat Conservation Trust
Turn off unnecessary external lights near known bat commuting routes