Wildlife Welfare

Bat Conservation Welfare UK

All UK bat species are legally protected, with bat conservation work creating welfare considerations around roost disturbance, rehabilitation of injured bats, and disease management.

Key Facts

All 18 UK bat species are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
Roost disturbance during maternity season causes pup mortality and colony stress
White-nose syndrome has devastated North American bat populations but not yet reached the UK
Injured bats in the UK require specialist handling due to rabies lyssavirus risk
Bat Conservation Trust coordinates UK bat population monitoring and conservation

Welfare Considerations

Bat welfare encompasses both legal protection from disturbance and positive provision of habitat through bat box installation and habitat management. Injured bat welfare requires specialist knowledge including disease risk awareness, creating responsibilities for those who encounter injured bats.

What You Can Do

Register with the Bat Conservation Trust volunteer bat monitoring network
Install bat boxes in your garden or on your building
Never handle injured bats without specialist training due to lyssavirus risk