Wildlife crime investigation leads to seizure of illegally-taxidermised bats

Crime / Sat 21st Mar 2026 at 12:57pm

FOLLOWING a detailed investigation into a woman who was found to be taxidermising dead bats, our Rural Engagement Team has seized them and they will be destroyed.

Investigating officer PC Terry Verrall said the woman was running a legitimate business but hadn’t realised she needed specific licences to stuff or sell bats, as well as other wild birds and animals.

After issuing a community resolution, he explained: “She’d never been in trouble with the law before and didn’t know what licences are needed for selling taxidermy items.

“It’s important to understand it’s an offence to buy, sell, possess or transport a dead bat, or any part of one, without the appropriate licence.”

The team were alerted by Natural England that the woman, from south Essex, was selling bat skulls, taxidermised bats and parts of crows.

“This case is quite unusual, so we spoke to Natural England and the police National Wildlife Crime Unit about it,” explains Terry.

“They were keen to ensure the woman was properly educated about what she can and can’t stuff or sell so she doesn’t repeat the mistake.

“The laws surrounding the buying and selling of protecting animals and birds are there to protect species which are rare, endangered or at risk of extinction.

“Our world is a beautiful place, enriched by the wildlife it contains, and we are committed to safeguarding it for future generations.”

All the taxidermised items have been seized and will be destroyed.

1 Comment for Wildlife crime investigation leads to seizure of illegally-taxidermised bats:

Colleen Morrison

2026-03-22 12:18:00

How to save a live bat. I was in my bedroom on one occasion when my cat ran in, jumped up and clung onto the net curtain in front of a top small window, then ran downstairs with something unrecognisable in his mouth. I ran downstairs after my cat and he dropped this square, furry thing in my hall. I stood back, wondering what on earth it was, I was not inclined to get too close to it. Then it suddenly began wriggling and, very slowly, two long, brown, bat shaped wings unfurled. I ran to get a glass bowl, in the hope of capturing it, to try to set it free outside. But when I returned to the hall it had gone. I searched for the bat but couldn't find it and there was no sign of it next morning. I worried that my cat had run off outside with it and had killed it. However, when I came home from a late meeting that night, I found the bat lying, wings outstretched on my hall carpet. I later leaned that bats can hide in the tiniest of spaces. I got the glass bowl again and put this over it, so it couldn't escape. Then I slid a plate over the open part of the bowl and took it to our local church, where I assumed it lived, to set it free. Around midnight, there's me, walking round a graveyard trying to get the courage to lift the plate off the bowl. Two people walked past and looked a bit shocked, I said, "It's okay, I'm not a witch, I'm just setting a bat free." Then I lifted the plate and ran home. Mission accomplished, thank goodness.