2014 Living with Mammals survey commences

Today sees the start of the PTES 2014 Living with Mammals survey. I've been taking part in this nationwide survey of mammals in the built environment since it started in 2003. It's an easy one to take part in as you can give as little or as much time as you are able and it is designed to be done in your garden or other 'built' space. It is surveys like this one which tell us important information about how our mammals are doing; for example, this survey, along with Mammals on Roads, has helped highlight the continued decline of our Hedgehogs. Do take part if you can.

I popped out for five minutes tonight on returning from dog training class, to see what was about. I took my new Elekon Batscanner and I hadn't even stepped out the door and I heard a Soprano Pipistrelle. This was shortly followed by a Common Pipistrelle, so in less than a minute I could confidently say that I had at least 2 bats flying round the garden.

Living with Mammals does not require you to identify species of bat, so its great if you just see one or two flying around. However, if you do record any species, I would love to know.

Hedgehogs emerge from hibernation

Well, it has been mild, so it is perhaps not surprising that the Pontrobert Hedgehogs are once again frequenting our feeder. It's great to see them again!

Don't forget to report your Hedgehog sightings to me, dead or alive!

Cardiff Uni plea for volunteers

Cardiff University are hoping to recruit volunteers to help with otter spraint collections - can you help?

Background
During national surveys in the 80s and 90s in Wales, spraint from some catchments (including the Teifi, Tywi, Wye, Cleddau and Severn) was collected. Initial analysis of some of these samples indicates a marked drop in eel remains between the two decades, and a shift to other prey species.

Cardiff Uni would like to repeat spraint collection on all the catchments for which we have historic spraint collections to analyse prey remains and identify both the decrease in reliance on eels (and how this varies between catchments) and what other species are making up the deficit. For example, is this causing increased pressure on other vulnerable species like amphibians, or on resources such as stillwater fisheries?

Practicalities
The hope is to collect spraint this summer; there are details of exactly where spraint was collected in the past, so they want to repeat this as closely as possible.

Funding applications are currently being written to cover costs such as volunteer travel. It will help the funding bid to have a good list of collaborators, so if you think you might like to get involved, please let me know asap. Otherwise, watch this space for more details!