suzeanna Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 If you can, get photos of the bats (or video if thats easier) and evidence like droppings. Bats are protected, you are not meant to destroy their home or injure them...but you must have proof they exist there in the first place. The Wildlife Trust should be able to give you good advice, but in the end it comes down to whether the council believe you or care. There was a lovely big old tree opposite our friend's house, on the grass verge, doing no one any harm, and bats roosted in it. A developer wanting to sell a parcel of land behind the tree cut it down last month...my friend phoned the council and they couldn't have been less interested. It wasn't even standing on the land he wants to sell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesB Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 (edited) The Bat Conservation Trust might be helpful too: Bat Conservation Trust Edited to say there is a page on that site that tells you how to go about Reporting Bat Crimes, apparently it's a criminal offence and a police wildlife crime priority. I hope that's true Edited October 24, 2008 by JulesB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cycas Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Disrupting bats or nesting birds deliberately definitely is a criminal offence, you might have to fight your corner to get people to sit up and take notice though. Apart from the Wildlife trust and the bat people, if there are any local organisations doing volunteer work or observation or whatever, they will probably have good contacts and know who to talk to. Our local one is just called a 'Wildlife Group' but I know that some of the University of the Third Age groups are involved in wildlife observation too. There are lots of Conservation Volunteer groups, again they'll have contacts and know who can get things done. If it were me I'd try local councillors and the MP as well. Just make sure that they know that you are complaining about more than just coppicing or renovation work, and focus on the rarer native animals/insects/plants, you will have a lot more luck mobilising people to do something about bats or goldcrests than introduced species like muntjac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spins4me Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Thank you everyone for the information. I feel as if I have some ammunition now. Apologies to griff - I seem to have hijacked the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts