Bats

Within the UK, 17 species of bat are known to breed, each requiring their own roosting features in which to do so; from residential housing to old farm buildings, trees and caves, mines and bridges. All are European Protected Species, regardless of whether they are locally rare, declining in numbers or relatively common.

Bat surveys are typically a two-stage process, with an initial internal/external scoping inspection of buildings, which may rule out bat potential and may be undertaken any time of year.

If there is suggestion that bats might be present, the second phase involves a suite of three activity surveys at dusk and dawn, typically conducted between May to September, which may cover a single building, bridge, tree or the wider environment, depending upon the scope of work. Bat surveys may be augmented with advanced techniques including DNA analysis of droppings for species confirmation and using mist nets and/or harp traps to live-capture individual bats to allow cryptic species to be identified.

Licence applications

Spires Ecology Ltd can undertake all survey works required to establish the use, if any, bats are making of a site, as well as preparation and implementation of European Protected Species Licences where required.

In addition Merryl is a Registered Consultant on the Bat Low Impact Class Licence scheme, able to provide an alternative and often quicker and cheaper route for licence application for those sites which meet the necessary criteria.

For more information Email us

Case study - house demolition and rebuild

Spires Ecology Ltd were commissioned to undertake a full suite of surveys on a residential property designated for demolition and rebuild on the same footprint. Surveys indicated low numbers of soprano and common pipistrelle bats were using the property, which therefore met the conditions required to enable the site to be successfully registered under the Bat Low Impact Class Licence, ensuring a swift and cost-effective result for the client.

Case study - barn conversion

Survey work indicated that at least four different bat species were using the barn, which the client hoped to convert to a residential property. Additional survey work was required including cameras to confirm the barn was being used for hibernation purposes, and the use of harp traps to further identify cryptic species to ensure the resultant EPS licence application could be appropriately considered by Natural England.