2
Reports of Meetings
Cover - Daubenton's Bat
Illustrations - Pipistrelle Bat
Emperor Dragonfly
Common Bee Fly
Joanna Foley
Typing Sue Boniface
BATS IN ESSEX
In September 1982 bats became a major talking
point in the media because they were afforded
full protection under the Wildlife and Country-
side Act 1981. This was necessary because of a
recent decline in population of all British Bats.
Although nothing is known of population changes
in historical times, modern declines have been
severe. The Greater Horseshoe bat has declined
by over 98% in a century; the more common by 50%
in three years and the Mouse-Bared bat is now
reduced to two males. The main causes have
been loss of roosts, loss of feeding habitat and
food, pollution and bad weather at critical times.
Roosts in natural caves are restricted to a few
localised areas but bats have been quick to
colonise mines and underground buildings, including
disused railway tunnels. However, many of these
sites have become unusable because entrances
have been blocked for safety or by rubbish-
tipping, or sometimes because of disturbance by
cavers and archaeologists. Worse still, there
are instances of hibernating bats being killed
by vandals - 96 near Ipswich only four years ago.
Roost sites in buildings are reduced when access
holes are blocked or cavity walls filled for