Advice and legislation relating to bats.
All species of bat and their breeding sites or resting places (roosts) are protected under Regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) and Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence for anyone intentionally to kill, injure or handle a bat, to possess a bat (whether live or dead), disturb a roosting bat, or sell or offer a bat for sale without a licence. It is also an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct access to any place used by bats for shelter, whether they are present or not.
For guidance on applying for licences see below.
For advice about bats causing problems:
Licences can be applied for using forms and guidance notes that can be downloaded from the European Protected Species page.
For information on rabies in bats see Rabies in Bats - European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLV).
Form for Bat submissions for rabies screening.
Monitoring bat populations (Bat Conservation Trust)