Terrestrial mammal surveys

In Ireland the Wildlife Act (1976) and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000) are the principal statutory provisions providing for the protection of Wildlife (both Flora and Fauna) and the control of activities which may impact adversely on the conservation of Wildlife. Certain mammal species are also listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive (1992) and are afforded further protection.

ECOFACT are fully qualified to carry out a range of non-volant mammal and bat surveys, with all staff having undergone specialist training modules, including training from the UK Bat Conservation Trust (BCT); in conjunction with extensive, in-house project experience.

ECOFACT undertake non-volant mammal surveys for all species of conservation importance in Ireland and can advise on the protection status, appropriate survey methodologies, procurement of derogation licences and mitigation measures required for species including:

• Badgers: sett and territory marking, foraging and commuting route surveys
• Otter: holt and breeding territory surveys, presence or absence surveys
• Pine marten: presence or absence surveys and territory mapping
• Red squirrel: breeding territory and presence or absence surveys

Bat surveys

Ireland is home to at least ten species of bat, from two Families, the Vespertilionidae (with nine species) and the Rhinolophidae (with one species). All bats in Ireland are protected under national legislation for wildlife protection; that is the Wildlife Act (1976) and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000).

All bat species are also protected under the provisions of Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive (1992), while the Lesser Horseshoe Bat is afforded further protection, being listed on Annex II of the same Directive. The domestic legislation that implements this Directive gives strict protection to individual bats and their breeding and resting places. Bat species are also protected under the Bonn Convention and the Bern Convention (Appendix II).

Bat surveys offered by ECOFACT:

• Presence/absence surveys
• Night-time bat activity surveys
• Building and structural surveys
• Tree roost surveys

Examples of projects that may require bat surveys:

• Road projects and other infrastructure that may impact the existing environment. ECOFACT follow the NRA guidance 'Best Practice Guidelines for the Conservation of Bats in the Planning of National Road Schemes' and 'Guidelines for the Treatment of Bats during the Construction of National Road Schemes'.
• Refurbishment or redevelopment of existing buildings and private houses
• Land clearance which may require the removal of trees or derelict structures
• Tree felling or landscaping works
• Works on bridges
• Works which may affect underground features i.e. caves or swallow-holes.

ECOFACT can provide expert services for the procurement of derogation licences for proposed developments, which will require scientific surveys and robust mitigations for the protection of bat species and their conservation status. Where there is no satisfactory alternative a licence to remove a bat roost may be granted; ECOFACT have successfully dealt with bat roosts under licence from the NPWS.