- 17 Apr 2026
Happy International Bat Appreciation Day!
Did you know?
In the UK, bats are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. This means it’s illegal to:
- Deliberately kill, injure, or capture bats
- Disturb bats, especially when they’re roosting
- Damage or destroy a roost—even if bats aren’t present
- Block access to places bats use for shelter
There are over 1,400 bat species worldwide, making up around 1 in 5 of all mammal species.
Bats have been around for more than 50 million years and play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling pests, pollinating plants, and spreading seeds
