City launches study on animal species living in buildings
Between April and September, the research firm Sweco is conducting a study on behalf of the municipality to assess the status of species that inhabit buildings in our municipality. These include house sparrows, swifts, and various species of bats that like to roost under roof tiles or in cavity walls.
Since bats and swifts are often active in the evening, much of the research takes place in the evening. That’s why the researchers often cycle through our villages late into the night. Sometimes they also stop in front of a house at night to count how many bats are living in the cavity wall.
The company conducting the survey is Sweco. The surveyors always wear vests or company uniforms provided by Sweco. If you see someone standing in front of your house at night or cycling very slowly down your street and they’re wearing one of those vests, please don’t worry.
In the Netherlands, bats, swifts, house sparrows, and other species are protected. As more and more people choose to insulate their homes to lower their energy bills, these species sometimes lose their places to rest or give birth to their young. Before you insulate, renovate, or demolish, you must therefore conduct an ecological survey and apply for a permit. Since this costs money and time, the municipality conducts this survey on behalf of everyone in the built-up area of Geldrop-Mierlo.