In defence of bats
Sir: I am saddened by the ‘us versus them’ stance taken by Melissa Kite (‘Bats vs people’, 3 August) when referring to bats. I might be better known for wielding a different sort of bat, but I am a strong supporter of the winged variety. These amazing creatures have lived alongside people for centuries but bats are often misunderstood and even persecuted. So let’s set the record straight; bats are a natural British pesticide, eating midges and other pests. But the last century hasn’t been good for bats. We have carelessly destroyed much of their habitat and, although, as Ms Kite noted, they are protected by law, with the challenges bats face they need all the help they can get. In buildings where bats roost their presence often goes unnoticed as they usually roost in small numbers for short periods each year before moving on.
If for any reason the presence of bats is considered problematic, solutions that suit both bats and people can generally be found. Volunteer bat-workers and ecological consultants can all play a part in helping people and bats to live happily together and advice is available via the Natural England Helpline (0845 1300 228). If bats in a building are considered early on in any development, they needn’t become a problem. Those of us who bat for Britain and its diverse wildlife can and should make every effort to live with our bats.
David Gower
Patron of the Bat Conservation Trust London SE11
But what about reptiles?
Sir: Melissa Kite omits to refer to a large chunk of this EU-derived law on wildlife protection. As an architect, I recently received a letter reminding me that the reptile season ends in September. They explain: ‘All of the UK’s native reptiles are protected by UK legislation.
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