Wildlife

Bat Roost Welfare and Conservation

Bats roosting in buildings and trees face specific welfare threats from development, disturbance, and loss of roost sites.

Key Facts

The UK has 18 bat species, all protected under law
All UK bat species and their roosts have legal protection year-round
Common pipistrelle bats can eat 3,000 insects in a single night
Bats are highly site-faithful and return to the same roost sites for decades
Building renovations that disturb roosts kill or displace bats and are illegal without mitigation

Welfare Considerations

Bat roost welfare encompasses both the protection of individual bats from disturbance and the long-term preservation of roost sites essential for breeding, hibernation, and thermoregulation. Female bats gather in maternity roosts to give birth and raise pups — disturbance during this period causes mortality of pups and abandonment of roosts. Legal protection of bat roosts reflects both conservation and welfare importance.

What You Can Do

Check for bat roosts before any building renovation or tree felling
Commission a bat survey if development may affect a potential roost site
Report injured bats to the Bat Conservation Trust helpline
Install bat boxes on buildings and trees to supplement roost availability
Turn off lights near bat roosts particularly during emergence at dusk