Other sources of information regarding protected species and foxes

Bats and badgers are protected species under the following legislation:

The presence of a protected species is a material consideration when a planning authority is considering a development proposal that, if carried out, would be likely to result in harm to the species or its habitat.

Bats

  • The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection for all bats and their roosts and requires consultation with English Nature (in England) before carrying out activities that might harm or disturb bats and/or their roosts.
  • The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000. This is important legislation because it protects bats and roosts from disturbance or damage, whether reckless or intentional.
  • Under the Habitats Regulations it is an offence to damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place of any bat, or to deliberately capture, kill or disturb a bat. Most development and maintenance works affecting bats and/or roosts e.g. bridge or tree maintenance works, any demolition, barn conversions, works to churches, etc. therefore require a Habitats Regulations Licence.

To summarise: in England, before works affecting bats or roosts is undertaken, a Habitats Regulations Licence must be applied-for and obtained from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Advice and information for householders who find they have bats on their property is available from:

The Bat Conservation Trust
15 Cloisters House
8 Battersea Park Road
London SW8 4BG
Helpline: 0845 1300228

Surrey Bat Group
Dedicated to bat conservation in Surrey.

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Badgers

Badgers are a protected species. In addition to The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, The Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act 2000 and The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations 1994, badgers are also covered by the provisions of:

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Foxes

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health have adopted an advisory booklet produced by Bristol City Council Living with Urban Foxes.

Bristol University have produced an informative website with information about nuisance problems caused by both urban and rural foxes.

Further advice and assistance may be obtained from a pest control contractor or one of the following groups:

The Fox Project
The Southborough Centre
Draper Street
Southborough
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN4 0PG

Urban Fox Deterrence Advice Line
Tel: 01892 826 222

Hydestile Wildlife Hospital
New Road
Hydestile
Godalming
Surrey GU8 4DJ
Tel: 01483 860313

Humane Urban Wildlife Deterrence
23 Tormount Road
London SE18 1QD
Tel: 0208 3167852