Sunday 21 July 2013

12 pipistrelle bats killed in Scotland

Appeal after bodies of dead bats found

July 2013. Police in St Andrews are conducting an investigation after the bodies 12 Pipistrelle Bats, found at the foot of a tree on the Eden Estuary at Guardbridge, near to the former Guardbridge Paper Mill, were shown to have suffered trauma.

PC Susan Martin, who is conducting the investigation, is appealing for information from the public in finding out how the bats died on or around 28th June.

Post mortem
She said: "We do not know if people have discovered the bat roost and interfered with it or if someone in the area has found them in their home and decided to dispose of them. We have an open mind to any scenario. We can confirm that, following a post mortem examination at a laboratory in Cumbria, we now know that the animals had some significant trauma at the time of their deaths.

"The divisional wildlife crime co-ordinator, Scottish Natural Heritage, the The Bat Conservation Trust and I are conducting a joint investigation and are anxious to speak to anyone who may be able to assist with our enquiries. We would urge anyone with any information to telephone Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Death of a mother leads to death of a baby
Pete Charleston, Investigations Officer for The Bat Conservation Trust, said: "Bat roosts are incredibly important sites for conservation. At this time of year bats are at their most sensitive, mother bats will be raising their young in maternity roosts. If a mother bat is killed, then their baby will die too as a baby bat depends on its mother for milk. It is very important for bat conservation that bat roosts are not disturbed."


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