COVID-19: Guidance For Surveying and Mitigation Works Affecting Wildlife

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Defra and Natural England have today published guidance for ecologists or environmental professionals carrying out field survey or mitigation works in England during the coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance refers to interactions with mammal species as they are potentially susceptible to coronaviruses, and what to do if your work does not allow you to follow these guidelines.

The guidance states that to avoid transmitting COVID-19 from people to wild mammals you should:

  • stay at least 2 metres from live wild mammals at all times
  • only capture or handle live wild mammals if necessary
  • avoid going within 2 metres of known burrows, dens, roosts or other breeding or regularly used resting sites of mammals, where possible.