The British government enacted laws to protect bats as early as the 1980s, starting with the 1981Wildlife and Countryside Act. British bat species are also protected by European legislation, such as the 2010 Habitats and Species Protection Regulations. These laws protect bats and prohibit intentional or unintentional disturbance of bats and their living environment. It is forbidden to kill or injure bats. Why are there so many laws to protect bats and their habitat? Because bats, directly and indirectly, play an important part of environment protection.
Insect control
Bat eat thousands of insects every night. This number varies, depending on the size of the bat. Smallest bats eat around two to three thousand flying insects a night which provide natural pest control in the environment. Installing nesting places for bats and protecting their roosts can reduce the need for insecticides.
Pollination
Bats are key pollinators. In the south west of the United States bats perform the same pollinating role for agave plants as bees perform for most British wildflowers. Bats eat fruits and spread their seeds in the same way as birds. Bats do not fulfill these roles In the UK but their presence can be an indicator of the extent of their natural habitat.
What are the consequences of breaking the law?
Breaching the wildlife legislation can be fined up to £5,000 and six months in prison. However, these rules apply to all animal.