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British bats ‘stable or recovering’
The report suggests that current legislation and conservation action is proving successful.
Report suggests conservation action is working

British bat populations are ‘stable or recovering’, according to new data published by the Bat Conservation Trust.

The State of the UK’s Bats 2017 report shows that of the 18 resident species, the majority are increasing in number or are stable. The Bat Conservation Trust said this suggests that current legislation and conservation action is proving successful.

However, it also warns that bat populations still face many pressures, including ongoing roost and habitat loss, increased urbanisation, artificial lighting and wind turbines.

Commenting on the report, Dr Kirsi Peck, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Biodiversity Support Officer, said: “The report published today indicates that the protection measures afforded to UK bats are working. The NBMP’s high-quality evidence on bat population trends is an important corner-stone to the advice we give to support decisions that affect the environment bats rely on.”

The State of the UK’s Bats 2017 report provides a summary of species population trends up to 2016 and looks at some of the results in more detail to highlight key findings and conservation issues. The data used in the report have been collected from more than 1000 people who count bats in a number of different surveys across the UK.

Besides providing insights on population trends, the data are used to better understand how bats use our landscape and to provide practical recommendations on how landscapes can be improved for bats.

Philip Briggs, Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) monitoring manager, said: “In the UK we are fortunate to have an amazing conservation volunteering culture and it is thanks to the dedication of our many volunteers that we are able to track how more than half of our native bat species are faring and make exciting new discoveries about these fascinating mammals.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.