Bats in GB

AKuhlmann

Member
Hey everyone,

I don’t know if this is well known or not but I just wanted to report I found some bats in GB at CHECC. Because they weren’t in groups, which probably means they’re the kind that aren’t hibernating yet, they’ll be hibernating by the end of the week if they aren’t already.

One group member saw one on the way in but didn’t communicate the message and on the way out we found loads and worked hard to keep our voices and lights down.
 

cap n chris

Well-known member
Bats have been residing in GB for way more than a decade. Indeed the entrance has a bat friendly aperture for that very reason.
 

AKuhlmann

Member
Bats have been residing in GB for way more than a decade. Indeed the entrance has a bat friendly aperture for that very reason.
Great to know! I mentioned it to a few people who’d been in there a few times and no one told me it was a well known thing! First time in the Mendips so forgive the ignorance 😅

To those being a bit unhelpful - bats can start to roost in places and be displaced from places so the age of a passage makes no difference and all cavers should protect bats as their legal duty, whether it causes access issues or not
 

darren

Member
All cavers have a legal duty to protect bats, are you sure? I believe the law is we are not allowed to intentionally or recklessly disturb bats.
 

Speleofish

Active member
According to the ecologist who did a bat survey for us recently, great created newts aren't endangered in the UK - they're protected as part of the EU legacy as they are endangered on the continent. I don't know enough about the subject to have a worthwhile opinion, but I thought it was an interesting comment. Certainly, you find them wherever you look around us...
 

Hunter

Member
According to the ecologist who did a bat survey for us recently, great created newts aren't endangered in the UK - they're protected as part of the EU legacy as they are endangered on the continent. I don't know enough about the subject to have a worthwhile opinion, but I thought it was an interesting comment. Certainly, you find them wherever you look around us...
You are quite correct, I found that out a good few years ago whilst working on the Bedfordshire Biodiversity Action Plan and also in discussions with a highways consultant who advised on GC Newts.
The protected status in UK is due to blanket EU legislation ( can’t remember the exact title) rather than a focused approach applied where protection is actually necessary.
Great Crested newts are in need of protection across the channel but in this country they are quite a common occurrence as evidenced by the black plastic Newt Barriers alongside many roadside attenuation ponds although there presence (actual or perceived) can be usefully employed as a distraction for those opposed to local development.
 
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