Study

Designing a new access point for lesser horseshoe bats, Gloucestershire, UK

  • Published source details Reason P.F. (2017) Designing a new access point for lesser horseshoe bats, Gloucestershire, UK. Conservation Evidence, 14, 52-57.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Relocate access points to bat roosts within developments

Action Link
Bat Conservation
  1. Relocate access points to bat roosts within developments

    A before-and-after study in 1993–2016 of one building development in the UK (Reason 2017) found that an alternative access point with a ‘straight’ design resulted in an increase in lesser horseshoe bats Rhinolophus hipposideros using the basement of the building as a roost, but an access point with a ‘bend’ resulted in a decrease in bats re-entering the roost. Up to 35 bats were counted emerging from the roost prior to the installation of an alternative access point. After installation of the access point with a ‘bend’ in 2000, a similar number of bats exited the roost (data not reported), but only two were observed re-entering. In 2001, the access point was modified to a ‘straight’ design and the number of bats using the roost increased over a 15-year period (2002: 27 bats; 2016: 416 bats). The ‘bend’ design consisted of a 90° turn at the base of a short vertical shaft and was in place for 11 months. The ‘straight’ design consisted of a sloped chute enclosing the original flight route with a clear flight line into the roost. The building was a large manor house converted into a hotel in 2000–2001. Counts of emerging bats were carried out at least once/year between May and July in 1993–2000. Emergence and re-entry counts were carried out three times/year in 2000–2001. Biennial counts were carried out in July in 2002–2016.

    (Summarised by: Anna Berthinussen)

Output references
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