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some help is always available from myself or
other members of the Mammal Group, who can
recommend useful field books or assist directly
in the location and identification of mammals,
their remains or signs.
So, please do pass on any information about
mammals in your area, so that we can more
effectively evaluate the success of mammals in
Essex.
Fiona A. Hughes
Bat Notes
In the Autumn 1981 (No. 24) edition of the Essex
Field Club Bulletin, I wrote a few notes outlining
a bat survey that I had just started. At the
time of writing (July 18th, 1981) Pipistrelle,
Serotine and Daubentons bats had all been found
and a total of five 10 km. square records made.
This compared with 28 10 km. square records
during the previous twenty years. Since then
several events have happened.
From September 28th, 1982, all bats are now
protected under the Wildlife and the Countryside
Act. It is illegal for anyone to:-
i) kill a bat
ii) possess a bat (either alive or dead)
iii) disturb a bat when roosting
iv) sell or offer for sale any bat (either
alive or dead)
v) photograph a bat.
It is now an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct
access to any place that a bat uses for shelter or
protection, or to disturb a bat while it is