The property’s tenant was admitted to hospital with bite wounds after more than 150 bats flew into his living quarters and bedroom from the house’s roof structure in which they had been trapped. 

When ecology experts examined the property in Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, they identified the animals as Soprano Pipistrelle bats which are protected under European law. 

Evidence presented by prosecutors showed around half of the 300 bats in the colony had died of dehydration and starvation. 

This came after work to install solar panels and external cladding blocked off the entrance to the bat roost within the roof of the building. 

At Dumfries Sheriff Court on July 27, City Building (Glasgow), was fined £17,000 after pleading guilty to breaching animal conservation laws between June and July 2023. 

Iain Batho, who leads on animal welfare for the Crown Office, said: “It is the responsibility of those involved in construction work to ensure that due diligence is carried out to prevent the unlawful disturbance of protected wildlife or their habitats. 

“City Building (Glasgow) failed in their duty to carry out that necessary due diligence which negatively impacted on a sizeable maternity roost and resulted in the death of around 150 bats.  

“This impaired the ability of these bats to survive and rear their young during the maternity season and will impact significantly on the Soprano Pipistrelle bat population in that area.  

“COPFS takes wildlife crime seriously and action will be taken against individuals or companies where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so.”