Bats

All bats are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

It is an offence to:

• Kill, injure, catch or keep bats
• Damage, destroy or obstruct bat roosts
• Disturb bats while they are roosting, for example by entering known roosts or hibernation sites
• Sell, barter or exchange bats, alive or dead

It is a legal requirement to consult Scottish Natural Heritage before you do anything that might affect bats or their roosts.

 

This might include:

• blocking, filling or installing grilles over old mines or tunnels
• Building, alteration or maintenance work
• Getting rid of unwanted bat colonies
• Removing hollow trees
• Re-roofing
• Remedial timber treatment
• Rewiring or plumbing in roofs
• Treatment of wasps, bees or cluster flies

Remember that because bats return to the same places every year, a bat roost is protected even if there aren’t bats there all the time

This explanation should be regarded only as a guide to the law. For further details, reference should be made to Sections 9-11, 16-27 and 69 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

For further information on bats contact Scottish Natural Heritage or the Bat Conservation Trust