By Max Ellis, MKA Ecology Ecologist
Bats can present constraints to development due to their protected status. It’s often necessary to exercise additional precautions when bats are present within buildings that are being developed. However, because these animals frequently establish themselves within surprising (and sometimes unexpected) places they often become unwelcome intruders, even when no development is taking place.
In 2023, a London theatre approached MKA Ecology to discuss a unique ecological problem. During lockdown, while the theatre was closed, a small population of bats had moved into one of the roof spaces of the theatre. Due to the challenges associated with locating the bat roosts and their access points, professional guidance was sought from our team of ecologists.
It was concluded that the bats were likely using the air vents to navigate into the theatre’s interior before returning through the vents and emerging into the open air to forage for insects during the night.
The bats possibly made a permanent roost out of the service riser, sleeping there during the day. In a more typical setting, it’s very characteristic of some bat species to fly into the interior of barns or attic spaces where they are roosting before eventually making their way outside. The bats at the theatre were displaying similar behaviour, albeit on a larger scale.
During the visit, MKA Ecology identified the species in the bat population and discussed possible solutions with the theatre staff. When working with bats, it’s often very useful to understand which species are present; each of them has a distinct nature and this can guide our mitigation approach both effectively and appropriately.
Bats are protected animals in the United Kingdom, and it is illegal to cause damage, destruction, or obstruction to their roosts. As such, the ideal solution here is likely to involve the determent of bats from the inside space of the building, whilst still allowing them access to their roosts so that they may continue to survive there.
Bats can reside within buildings without causing a disturbance; indeed, thousands of these animals live within houses across the UK, and most are never noticed. When they do cause disturbance, and with careful management, it is always possible to find a solution that won’t rely on the forcible exclusion of the bats from their roosts.
To find out more about bat surveys click here alternatively contact MKA Ecology to discuss your project.
Photo by Denley Photography on Unsplash