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Breaking

Fine for angler who gave false name to NRW enforcement officer

Blaenau Gwent man prosecuted for encouraging dog to enter a live badger sett

Carlisle man bludgeoned badger with shovel then tossed it to dogs

Warwickshire Hunt hit with notice from police amid concerns about 'dangers' on roads

Gloucestershire man fined after messages showed him bragging and admitting to the illegal hunting of foxes

Two Gwent fishermen caught and in court for illegal netting

Bird of prey poisoned, Horncastle, Lincolnshire

Dorset hunt master found guilty and fined £6,800

Fines for two men caught digging at active badger sett on Wrexham farm

Norfolk Gamekeeper admits killing birds of prey

Cwmbran man fined for fishing without a rod licence or permission to fish

Essex angler fined £240 after illegally fishing on the River Stour.

North Wales man posed with ‘severely injured’ dogs after using them for badger baiting

Illegal Tree Felling Prosecution in Northern Ireland

Sperm whale teeth seized and Oxford man arrested

Northampton medicine practitioner pleads guilty to illegal trade of endangered species

Housebuilding director fined for Aberdeen badger sett damage

2022-2025 NPCC Wildlife & Rural Crime Strategy launched

Welsh developers fined £7400 for Bat Offences

Two Chester men given five-year criminal behaviour orders for Hare poaching in West Lancashire


Home / Animal of the Month / Bat

Bat


sopranopipistrellebat16dIn June, female bats usually give birth to a single pup, which they feed on their milk. Young bats are very small (less than an inch) with thin, slightly grey fur. Adult bats will catch thousands of insects each in a night.

Bats play an important role in many environments around the world. In the UK, some bats are ‘indicator species’, because changes to these bat populations can indicate changes in aspects of biodiversity. Bats might suffer when there are problems with insect populations (because our bats feed on insects) or when habitats are destroyed or poorly managed (for example, some bats only live in large woodlands).

While some people think bats are pests, some bats are actually pest controllers eating thousands of insects every night. UK bats won’t bite you or suck your blood – but they will help clear the air of bloodsucking insects!

All bats in the UK are insectivores – they only eat insects. Insect-eating bats are great for keeping bugs away from crops, as well as the places where the bats roost.

Pipistrelle batSadly, many bat species around the world are vulnerable or endangered due to factors ranging from loss and fragmentation of habitat, diminished food supply, destruction of roosts, disease and hunting or killing of bats.

In the UK, bat populations have declined considerably over the last century. Bats are still under threat from building and development work that affects roosts, loss of habitat, the severing of commuting routes by roads and threats in the home including cat attacks, flypaper and some chemical treatments of building materials. Other potential threats can include wind turbines and lighting if they are sited on key bat habitat on near roosts.

Information taken from BCT website

To read all about the work of the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) click here

 


  • Wildlife Crime Press Coverage

    • Fine for angler who gave false name to NRW enforcement...
      January 19, 2023
    • Blaenau Gwent man prosecuted for encouraging dog to enter...
      December 20, 2022
    • Carlisle man bludgeoned badger with shovel then tossed...
      December 20, 2022
    • Warwickshire Hunt hit with notice from police amid...
      December 18, 2022
    • Gloucestershire man fined after messages showed him bragging...
      December 15, 2022


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