Protected Species Surveys in Scotland

Bat surveys inform planning, licence applications and development works involving buildings and trees. These are highly seasonal, with Stage 2 (or Bat Activity) surveys only possible between May and September.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your bat surveys may include:

• Desk studies to assess surroundings.

• Daytime visual inspection (or Stage 1 Survey) to assess roosting potential.

• Activity surveys (or Stage 2 Surveys) to assess roost use.

• Full survey reports including site maps, findings, and recommendations.

• Licence applications (BLIMP or development licences).

• Bat protection plans including mitigation, things to avoid, licence holder oversight.

If you need or think you might need a bat survey, contact our team on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Badger surveys are used to identify sett locations and classify them ahead of development. These can be carried out throughout the year, but ideally between February and April or in October when vegetation is relatively low and activity is high.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your badger survey will include elements of the following:

• Desk study of previous surveys, historical records, and GIS mapping to outline the survey area.

• Field survey systematically walking the site to identify latrines, setts, paths, snuffle holes, nests, hair, footprints and other signs of badger activity.

• Bait marking if required to identify territorial boundaries.

• Full report of findings and recommendations, including a Badger Protection Plan (BPP) describing the impacts, mitigation, exclusion zones and other considerations for completing proposed works.

If you need or just think you might need a badger survey, contact us on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Otter surveys are used to detect otter presence, activity areas and resting sites ahead of development. Otters are fully protected and a licence is required for any disruptive activities. Otter surveys can be completed year round, but are best completed from May to September when water levels are lower.

Depending on your site and proposed works, you otter survey will include elements of the following:

• Initial walkover to inspect watercourses and adjacent habitat for otter signs (e.g. spraints, holds, slides, and feeding remains).

• Camera trapping by a licensed ecologist to confirm use.

• A full report including findings and recommendations.

• Licensing of works and installation of mitigation strategies.

If you’d like advice regarding otter surveys, contact us on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Water vole surveys confirm the presence/absence of water voles along waterways that may be impacted by developments. Surveys can be carried out between April and October, but ideally between June and August.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your water vole survey will include elements of the following:

• Desk study checking local records and surrounding habitats.

• Habitat assessment looking at burrow-suitable banks, vegetation cover, and foraging habitat.

• Field surveys walking the entire riparian (riverside) zone plus an area immediately up and down stream, going 2m from the banks on either side checking for burrows, latrines, feeding remains and other signs.

• A full report including findings, mapping, required buffer zones, and mitigation.

• Licensing for any displacements.

If you have any questions about water vole surveys on your site, contact us on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Great crested newt surveys survey the habitat within 500m of breeding ponds to assess impacts of development. Pond surveys can take place from March to June and terrestrial surveys can take place from April to September.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your great crested newt surveys will include elements of the following:

• Desk study exploring pond and historic GCN location data.

• Pre-season habitat assessments.

• Pond surveys including torching, netting, trapping, egg searches or eDNA surveys.

• Terrestrial surveys including refugia, pitfall traps and hand searches.

• Full report of findings, recommendations, and mitigation and timings for completing work.

• Licences for any intrusive or disruptive activities.

If you have questions about great crested newt surveys contact us on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Pine marten surveys are used to detect the presence/absence of pine martens, and determine if they are breeding in a given area. They can be carried out year round in wooded habitats, but are best in spring/summer.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your pine marten surveys will include elements of the following:

• Habitat assessment to identify suitable woodlands for pine martens.

• Field survey looking for scats and other pine marten signs.

• Advanced surveys using hair tubes, camera traps, and licensed den-box inspections.

• A full report including findings and mitigation plants.

• Licensing for any activities which may disturb pine martens.

If you have any questions about pine marten surveys, contact us on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

All bird nests and eggs are protected, so breeding bird surveys are required from April to July (and at other times for migrant or early/late breeders) to determine the presence, abundance and behaviour or breeding birds. These are carried out to ensure nests are not impacted by works.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your breeding bird surveys will include elements of the following:

• Preliminary walk-through and desk study noting habitats, nesting opportunities, or existing records.

• Repeated field visits including morning point counts and transects across breeding periods.

• Species identification and nest monitoring including territorial and nesting activity.

• Data entry and reporting, including preparing summaries and maps to support mitigation.

If you’d like our help with breeding bird surveys, contact our team on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Red squirrel surveys can happen year round, but are best performed in spring and autumn. They are used to assess the presence and absence of red squirrels and how they may be impacted by proposed developments.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your red squirrel surveys will include elements of the following:

• Desk study to assess existing red and grey squirrel records and neighbouring habitats.

• Field surveys looking for dreys, feeding signs, or sightings. We may also use nocturnal spotlight surveys or dawn watches.

• Camera trapping to spot squirrels on site.

• Full report with findings and recommendations for how to proceed.

If you’d like our help with red squirrel surveys, contact our team on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Reptile surveys aim to establish species presence or absence, population status, and inform habitat management based on those findings. These must be completed when reptiles are active, with peak activity in April-May and September.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your reptile surveys will include elements of the following:

• Desk study looking at the surrounding habitat and locating heath, scrub, grassland and woodland edges.

• Artificial refugia setup where mats are laid in spring and checked weekly from April to May.

• Visual encounter and hand searches to note species, numbers and locations.

• Full report including findings and recommendations.

If you’d like support with your reptile surveys, contact our team on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.

Beaver surveys map territories, populations and aim to support management of beavers spread through a landscape. They are usually completed during autumn and winter when signs are most visible.

Depending on your site and proposed works, your surveys will include elements of the following:

• Desk study including surrounding habitats and species records.

• Field surveys including walking waterways, recording burrows, dams, lodges, scent mounds and foraging signs.

• Mapping territories by gathering GPD data to define active zones.

• Full reporting including findings and recommendations.

If you’d like help with your beaver surveys, contact our team on admin@daviddoddsassociates.com.