LloydBore

Hi, We require the services of a freelance tree climber in the Cumbria area for a mid-week job coming up (and potential further work in the future). Must have NPTC CS38 or equiv, and own kit (with up to date LOLER cert). Own Insurance not necessary as can be covered on company insurance. Please email Rich at [email protected] with experience/CV and a day/hour rate. Thanks

Hi Treecreeper, It is a fairly accurate idea. Pipistrelles are our most adaptable bat, which is why it is the most common. They have therefore been able to adapt to feeding around street lights where some insects congregate (in particular mercury streetlights). Many of the other, slower flying species positively avoid the lights as it increases the chances of being predated on. When we advise clients on developments, we always suggest the minimal use of flood lighting and street lighting as it has been shown to significantly reduce the numbers of bats in an area. It is particularly problematic amongst trees and near rivers. Cheers, Rich (Lloyd Bore Ecology)

Hi Dave, Be careful going back to the roost as if you run the risk of disturbing it, you should have a licence. That said, take a look at the droppings you found (if you still have them), if they crumble when you squish them and just turn to a kind of dust then they are probably bats. If they go squidge or turn to a kind of paste then they are probably from a rodent like a mouse. Bat droppings do not have much moisture in them as bats don't really drink, and so their droppings are just made up from the shells of insects. It's definitely sounding like bats though. If you're interested, hang around the tree at dusk (about 6.30ish at the moment) and you might well see them flying out. Cheers, Rich (Lloyd Bore Ecology)

Hi Dave, You're right that bats normally make noises that are far higher than we can hear, but when they are in the roost they use much lower noises which sound far more like chattering. The noises they usually make in flight are for echolocation - seeing the world with sound (like radar) - whereas the noises they make in a roost are simply social calls to talk to each other and therefore don't need to be so high pitched. It sounds very much like your learner climber disturbed a roosting bat and that your colleague may want to rethink his plans to fell the tree. At this time of year it will not be a maternity roost, as they don't pup until around June time but the roost will be protected nonetheless. If you're in any doubt, get an ecologist out to take a look, it may have been mice or even birds, but it sounds batty to me. Rich Lloyd Bore Ecology