Is this bats?

[David Goss]

Ok thanks. So here's another scenario then.... You are chogging down a stem and one of the blocks you threw down has a bat in it, what then? Would you be up **** creek? Or would you be praised for phoning the proper bods and getting them to find it a new home?

[farmer rod]

Having done many bat surveys prior to felling on big jobs and never having found any bats I have a question... If I was just doing a random tree in a back garden or wherever and suddenly realised there was a bat in the tree, what should I do next? Can they be put in another hole somewhere and they will sort themselves out when it gets dark? Or is it more complicated than that? Would be interesting to know what can be done, seeing as bat surveys cost money and joe bloggs public mainly won't be giving a toss about paying any extra, so I guess this could happen from time to time.

 

the odd bat would fly away once disturbed and find somewhere else to live, but it would be easy to disturb a maternity roost and cause long term damage to a colony, having an expert in could prevent that. However we all know the penalties of having the "authorities" involved

[David Goss]

Oops sorry about the bad word! Keep forgetting about that one haha seems so innocent to my ears...

[David Humphries]

Ok thanks. So here's another scenario then.... You are chogging down a stem and one of the blocks you threw down has a bat in it, what then? Would you be up **** creek? Or would you be praised for phoning the proper bods and getting them to find it a new home?

 

 

I've come across varying results David.

 

Personally we've had a letter off Natural England saying thanks for halting the job & for taking the time to notify (plus mitigate)

 

But then I've heard of other Local Authorities & small contractors getting fined. (big fine in relation to the LA)

 

 

 

.

[David Goss]

So it's a 50 50 then depending on the bigwig that gets sent to you. Let's hope it never happens then.

[David Humphries]

So it's a 50 50 then depending on the bigwig that gets sent to you. Let's hope it never happens then.

 

 

"First prosecution for damage to a bat roost in a tree

In May 2005 #### District Council in Hampshire was convicted for damaging a bat roost in a tree and fined £1,750. In 2004 a survey of the tree had been undertaken which recommended that a bat survey should be carried out before any works to the tree. However, the Council failed to carry out the bat survey, and a tree limb that contained a maternity roost of Daubenton’s bats was removed. This was the first time a case involving damage of a bat roost in a tree was successfully prosecuted."

 

From BCT Bat Related Crime report update 2003-2007

 

 

it's not so much the amount of the fine, its the oncosts for an LA, in terms of reputation damage & additional training, something like the above incurs.

 

 

 

.

[Doug Blease]

Always a challenge guys, but VERY easily avoidable.

 

Before undertaking works, the client should be made aware of the legal obligations regarding working on a tree. Wildlife legislation is part of this.

 

You need to assess the cavities of the tree, initially from ground level.

 

If the tree has no cavities, be aware that bats can be found under lifting bark, or in tight unions or other defects.

 

If the tree has the potential to accomodate roosting bats, then you should investigate further with the guidance of a professional ecologist. The ecologist can then advise you as to suitable mitigation measures.

 

In situations where you have inadvertantly destroyed a bat roost, theoretically you have committed an offence. Up until recently, honest people who do the right thing and halt works and report it have been respcted by the regulators and they have helped make the best of a bad situation.

 

This is quickly not becoming the case. Our industry now offers sufficient CPD courses on bats and wildlife legislation and really there isnt any excuse not to know about the legal framework regarding forestry and arb works. Regulators are unlikely to be so accomodating of innocent ignorance. You are now expected to consider these constraints on a daily basis and it is your responsibility to communicate them to your client.

 

My advice is to join a local Bat Group and get some free experience anf knowledge of bat ecology. Secondly, undertake some sort of formal training course with BCT/AA/IEEM etc.

 

Thirdly, contact a respectable ecologist, ensuring that they are suitably qualified and a member if IEEM, ensuring that they are impartial and of a high quality. Create a network with them where they may require your tree/ climbing skills and you will require their guidance....its all business after all and in everyones best interest.

 

Fourthly, dont think it wont happen to you. It is almost inevitable that regular tree workers will be constrained by wildlife legislation at some point.

 

So in summary, if you follow the simple guidelines, it should cover you in all cases. I am actively working with contractors regarding bats an trees and all seem to be very receptive to new ideas. There is a lot of scope for tree works to help mitigate development impacts and improve ecological connectivity and green infrastructure.

[treeseer]

Always a challenge guys, but VERY easily avoidable.

 

Before undertaking works, the client should be made aware of the legal obligations regarding working on a tree. Wildlife legislation is part of this.

 

You need to assess the cavities of the tree, initially from ground level.

 

If the tree has no cavities, be aware that bats can be found under lifting bark, or in tight unions or other defects.

 

If the tree has the potential to accomodate roosting bats, then you should investigate further with the guidance of a professional ecologist. The ecologist can then advise you as to suitable mitigation measures.....

Good advice, but I wonder if this consultation is necessary. If one encounters a bat in a tree to be removed, 1 reconsider removing it, or 2 remove the inhabited section carefully, and secure it in a nearby tree. The attached pic shows a flying squirrel that stayed in the same house, even after it was moved 50 feet away to another tree.

 

"Defences include:

 

Tending/caring for a bat solely for the purpose of restoring it to health and subsequent release..." To my eye, this includes the above suitable mitigation measure.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Always a challenge guys, but VERY easily avoidable.

 

Before undertaking works, the client should be made aware of the legal obligations regarding working on a tree. Wildlife legislation is part of this.

 

You need to assess the cavities of the tree, initially from ground level.

 

If the tree has no cavities, be aware that bats can be found under lifting bark, or in tight unions or other defects.

 

If the tree has the potential to accomodate roosting bats, then you should investigate further with the guidance of a professional ecologist. The ecologist can then advise you as to suitable mitigation measures.

 

In situations where you have inadvertantly destroyed a bat roost, theoretically you have committed an offence. Up until recently, honest people who do the right thing and halt works and report it have been respcted by the regulators and they have helped make the best of a bad situation.

 

This is quickly not becoming the case. Our industry now offers sufficient CPD courses on bats and wildlife legislation and really there isnt any excuse not to know about the legal framework regarding forestry and arb works. Regulators are unlikely to be so accomodating of innocent ignorance. You are now expected to consider these constraints on a daily basis and it is your responsibility to communicate them to your client.

 

My advice is to join a local Bat Group and get some free experience anf knowledge of bat ecology. Secondly, undertake some sort of formal training course with BCT/AA/IEEM etc.

 

Thirdly, contact a respectable ecologist, ensuring that they are suitably qualified and a member if IEEM, ensuring that they are impartial and of a high quality. Create a network with them where they may require your tree/ climbing skills and you will require their guidance....its all business after all and in everyones best interest.

 

Fourthly, dont think it wont happen to you. It is almost inevitable that regular tree workers will be constrained by wildlife legislation at some point.

 

So in summary, if you follow the simple guidelines, it should cover you in all cases. I am actively working with contractors regarding bats an trees and all seem to be very receptive to new ideas. There is a lot of scope for tree works to help mitigate development impacts and improve ecological connectivity and green infrastructure.

 

excellent advise and post:thumbup1:

 

 

treeseer, stick to U.S applications!

[Ross Winchester]

just a quick note ,we found some bats in a 2ft stump ,had been working near it most of the morning and spotted one leaving it at lunch time .so keep your eyes open i never would have thought there were bats in it .I went back a week later and they were still there .