Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): surveying and mitigation works affecting wildlife

Guidance for ecologists or environmental professionals carrying out field survey or mitigation works in England during the coronavirus pandemic.

• From: Natural England and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 19 October 2020
• Last updated: 9 August 2021 — See all updates

This guidance was withdrawn on 1 April 2022

This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date. You can read about living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

Applies to England

You should follow this guidance if you work with wildlife as an ecologist or environmental specialist.

You should follow guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and working safely in the outdoor workplace.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, test positive or live with someone who has or might have COVID-19, follow guidance for people with COVID-19 and their contacts.

If you’re interacting with mammal species

The virus that causes COVID-19 has not been found in any of the UK’s wild mammal species. Mammals are, however, potentially susceptible to coronaviruses. 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

If your work means you cannot follow these guidelines then you should:

• keep the time you spend in close proximity to and handling mammals to a minimum
• limit the number of people that come into close proximity or handle the mammals
• keep animals separate from other individuals, as much as reasonably possible

Follow good hygiene practices

Wear disposable gloves, or clean and disinfected non-disposable gloves, and a face covering when handling and in close proximity to any mammal.

Wash your hands before and after close proximity or handling any mammal.

Clean and disinfect all equipment before and after use with effective products that are safe for mammals.

Wash or disinfect any items between uses when handling mammals, to reduce the risk from infected animal secretions. This includes:

• face coverings
• non-disposable gloves
• overalls or other clothing

See guidance on cleaning in non-healthcare settings.

Published 19 October 2020
Last updated 9 August 2021 + show all updates

1. 9 August 2021

   Updated guidance to follow Step 4 of the COVID-19 roadmap.

2. 19 October 2020

   First published.