Mammals - Dormouse, Badger, Otter, Bats, Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Barbastelle, Pipistrelle, Longeared, Noctule, Whiskered Bat, Roe Deer, Fallow Deer, Fox.
Badgers are an easily recognised woodland character, and there are many known Badger sets in the oakwoods boundaries. Badgers are nocturnal and emerge from their setts at dusk to go forage for earthworms, eggs, insects and a range of bulbs, seeds and berries. Known by their conspicuous black and white faces, Badgers can grow to 750mm to 1000mm with an average weight of 8-9 kg in spring and 11-12kg in the autumn. Living in family groups of about 12 adults, they occupy a territory of approximately 125-350 acres, the boundaries of which they defend aggressively and mark with strong odour. Badgers are protected by law. The 1992 Protection of Badgers act consolidates all past badger legislation (about hunting and badger baiting), and in addition to protecting the badger itself, marks out as an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct badger setts. All forest operations and any site work carried out by the project will take into consideration any badger setts in the area. http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/htm/wildlife_gardening/badger_facts.htm |
Many of the woodlands contained in the Meirionnydd Oakwoods project run along riverbanks on high ground, many of which are remote from any roads or humans, which provides a perfect setting for otters. Otters are the largest British member of the weasel family and were once widespread in the British Isles. Numbers declined dramatically in the 1950-1960's, due to loss of habitat (rivers and water courses having conifers planted up to the banks restricting sunlight to the river and killing off its inhabitants and destroying the otter's habitat) and use of pesticides. Otters have a long, slim body with a long tail, otters are excellent swimmers, using their powerful tail as a rudder which also gives them great propulsion. Other attributes for spending time underwater include webbed toes and the ability to close their ears and nostrils underwater. Otters also have a clever way of keeping warm and dry while underwater. They have two types of fur; one fine layer of under fur, closest to the skin providing insulation by trapping a layer of warm air, and a stout layer of coarse, thick, and waterproof guard hair on the outside. Otters are solitary creatures with their territory reaching as far as 30km from their underground home on the riverbank called a holt. Eating mainly fish, otters will take crustaceans, water birds, frogs and voles, and must eat between 12-15% of their body weight in food each day -approximately 1-1.5kg. otters.blogspot.com |
|
Bats - Chiroptera Bats are flying mammals - which means they are warm blooded, give birth and suckle their young - often referred to as flying mice, they aren't actually related closely to rodents but in fact their belong to their own special group called the Chiroptera. www.bats.org.uk www.first-nature.com There are 16 species of bats in Britain, 9 or 10 of which only occur in Scotland, but the oakwoods of Meirionnydd provide a diverse and bountiful habitat for a myriad of different and rare bats. We have all heard the saying 'blind as a bat' but this is an unfair as bats have developed a highly sensitive and sophisticated echo-location system which allows them to build up a sound picture of their surroundings by emitting high pitched squeaks and listening to the echo that returns. This system not only enables bats to fly and 'see' in the dark, but also successfully hunt and avoid obstacles in complete darkness. The bats found in the oakwoods mainly eat insects and moths. As numbers are scarce over the winter months bats bulk up their weight in the autumn so they can hibernate, by slowing down their heart rates and going to sleep bats are able to make their food stores last longer. Unlike other hibernating creatures bats do not sleep right through the winter, they can wake up to go out and feed if the weather is quite mild. |
As the name suggests the lesser horseshoe bat is one of the smallest bat species in the UK, measuring 3-5cm in height, with a wingspan of 20cm, weighing in at 4-10g (with the average weight being equivalent to a two pence piece). The UK supports one of the largest populations of the lesser horseshoe throughout Western Europe, with the Meirionnydd Oakwoods sites preferred as one of the roosting and maternity sites. This is due to the habitat provided by the oakwoods, bat numbers have fallen dramatically in the 20th century due to loss of habitat and roosting sites. The lesser horseshoe bat prefers sheltered valleys with wide-ranging deciduous woodland near to the roost site. The Meirionnydd oakwoods have many disused past industrial sites, ranging from old lime kilns, mines, and caves, these now provide perfect roosting and hibernation sites for the lesser horseshoe bat. As a species it is less sensitive to the cold than many of its relatives, it hunts out deep caves and mines to hibernate and roost - maintaining a body temperature of 5-9C. |
Barbastelle bats are very rare in Britain. It has a wide range of habitats including open parks and gardens, but more interesting to the oakwoods project, mountainous areas with inaccessible valleys, with their winter roosts usually found below ground in abandoned mines and caves, and sometimes in large trees. Barbastelle means 'small beard' which draws attention to the tufts of dark hair on the muzzle. This is a very distinctive bat as it has short but very broad ears that meet at the top of its head, with black face and ears and a dark body with silvery tips to the fur. They are slow skilful flyers, coming out at dusk to hunt insects, often in swarms over water |
This is the smallest and most common bat in Britain, accounting for almost 90% of individual bats and is a familiar sight in many oakwoods sites at dusk. Their fur colour is variable, from dark blackish brown to a yellowy or rust coloured brown and are grey underneath. They have quite squashed features with narrow wings. Emerging after sunset the pipistrelle can be seen flying around chaotically at head height hunting for insects, they can eat approximately 3000 insects in one night. Rarely found in caves, pipistrelles prefer tight spaces in buildings but also cracks in trees, walls and bat boxes. They are generally found in open woodland, woodland edges, over water and marshes, and along hedgerows, feeding on Midges, small flies, mosquitoes, lacewings and small moths. |
There are two species of long-eared bat. This did not come to light until the 1960's, where it was discovered that we have the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus Auritus) and the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus). The brown long-eared bat is much more widespread that the grey, with its estimated population second to the pipistrelle (although the difference in population between these species is enormous). It is mostly found in woodlands, using holes and cracks in trees as its roost. There are many sites in the project that are home to this rare bat, emerging after dusk you may be lucky enough to see one hunting for moths, beetles, caterpillars and midges. |
With a wingspan of 33-46cm the noctule is the largest of the woodland bats, inhabiting deciduous and mixed woodlands the noctule hunts for flying insects. Recognised by its large orange/yellow body and its long and narrow wings the noctule is often seen out as early as late afternoon in search of insect pray. This species is different to the others for two reasons, the female is larger than the male, and it is a migratory species, travelling up to 1500km between its summer and winter roosts. As a species it is common throughout Europe except the colder northern climates of Scotland and Iceland amongst other countries. |
As the name would suggest this bat has a whitish-grey fir beneath its face. Very similar to the Brandts bat, this species is widespread throughout England and Wales, and appears in a variety of different habitats. The reason that links this bat to the oakwoods is its winter hibernation roosts, the whiskered bat has its winter roosts below ground in old caves and mines. The Meirionnydd oakwoods sites have many old mines and caves scattered throughout the forests which provides excellent roosts for these and other species of bat. |
The easiest way to spot a roe deer is when it runs away as it has a very short white tail surrounded by a white rump patch. When they are alarmed this patch fluff's out like a big powder puff! The male's can jump up to 15 metres and usually head for the cover of the trees. The rest of the roe deer's coat is reddy brown. They also have a white chin patch and a black nose - though it is very hard to get close enough to see this. Deer are herbivores this means that they only eat plants - nice young leaves from trees and bushes, lots of grass, berries and cereals. When you are in the woods see if you can pick out the some nice plants that deer would like to eat. Deer love clearings or woodland edges with plenty of grass and brambles so these are really good places to see them. The deer tend to take the same paths through the woodlands and it is quite easy to pick up these paths - if you find a muddy bit have a look for tracks like the ones shown below. Look at the difference in the tracks left when the deer runs and jumps compared to just walking. If you find these tracks have a look around you and try to imagine what the deer was up to - was it looking for food or running away because it got a fright? www.roedeer.com Other signs to look out for are smashed or rubbed young trees - these are where the males rub their antlers in spring to get rid of the velvet which covers the antlers when they are growing and to mark out their territory. Each year during the winter the antlers are cast off - so if you are very lucky you may find an antler in the woods. |
The most common deer in Meirionnydd is the Fallow deer. The Fallow deer can be found in most counties in England and Wales, and there are large populations in pockets spread across Scotland. The species was introduced by the Normans and quickly became established in the wild in hunting forests and chases. There are no really accurate estimates, but there must be tens of thousands of fallow deer in Britain. Fallow deer live in isolated groups in the forest. They range over large areas and spend only a short time in one area. But they can cause a great deal of damage by feeding on buds and leaves, and they will also strip bark from trees. Young fallow start breeding when they are about 18 months old. The mating season, or rut, starts in late September and peaks in mid October. Usually, the doe gives birth to a single fawn between late May - mid June. The fawn is weaned by October. Both sexes live in single sex groups for most of the year, only getting together at the time of the rut. Young bucks will sttay with the doe herds until they are 18 months old, when they leave to join the buck herds. Natural predators, such as bears, lynx and wolves, are now extinct in Britain. Today, in Forestry Commission woodlands, wildlife rangers control deer populations in woods to stop them suffering from sickness and disease, and to prevent them damaging and killing young trees. There are different varieties of fallow deer in Britain. The most common variety has a white spotted chestnut coat, with a white rump patch and a fairly long tail. A mature buck has a very prominent Adam's apple and a very obvious brush of hair under its belly. www.deer-uk.com |
Foxes are probably best known for their big red bushy tails with a little white tip. They are extremely resourceful animals and can be found almost everywhere in Britain. They eat almost anything from voles and rabbits, beetles, crabs, small birds, and the ones that live in towns thrive on our leftovers like chips and kebabs! They live in dens, which can be anything from a rock crevice to a hole under tree roots. Can you think of anywhere near where you live that would make a good hiding place for a fox? Foxes have quite a strong smell and when your out for a walk if get a musty whiff in the air there is a good chance you are very near to a fox's den. Foxes are most active at night so you may not see them that often. During the mating season from Christmas to February you may well hear them barking or even screaming (like a baby) at night to try an attract each other - the screaming can be a bit scary if your not expecting it. www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/red_fox 
When you are out next have a look to see if you can find any traces of a fox in the woods near you - check fence wires for hairs caught as the fox goes under the fence. Then check muddy patches for paw prints like the ones below - make sure you can tell the difference between the fox and a dog and then check it against the badgers too.
You can make quick drying plaster casts of animal tracks when your out and about then bring them home to identify them - it is easier if you paint the track so it stands out from the cast. Wildlife Adoption Site - www.adoption.co.uk |
