Wildlife Welfare

Wild Bat Conservation Roost Welfare

Bat roosts in buildings and trees provide critical maternity and hibernation sites whose disturbance causes significant welfare harm.

Key Facts

UK bats are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and Habitats Regulations
Disturbance of roosts can cause abandonment of pups and hypothermia in hibernating bats
Building works must consider bat roost surveys and mitigation plans
Exclusion of bats from buildings during hibernation causes mortality
Some species including lesser horseshoe bats rely on traditional roost sites for generations

Welfare Considerations

Disturbance of bat roosts during sensitive periods causes direct welfare harm through exposure, abandonment of pups, and disruption of hibernation. Legal protection reflects the conservation need but also implicitly acknowledges the welfare significance of roost disturbance.

What You Can Do

Commission bat surveys before any building or renovation work
Create bat boxes to provide alternative roost sites during building works
Support bat conservation organizations working to protect roost sites