• ABOUT
  • BIRDING 2018
  • Birding 2019
  • BLOG POSTS
  • Butterflies 2018
  • Resources

earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

earthstar

Category Archives: mammal

Cute but deadly

23 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

American mink, British mammals, Cardiff Bay, invasive mammal, Mink, Neovison vison

One of the many disadvantages of the huge accumulations of rubbish in Cardiff Bay is that these areas provide perfect homes for predators like this Mink. It was weaving through the logs and tyres and other assorted junk, popping its head up here and there, almost like it was playing hide and seek. It was fascinating to watch, of course, but it will prove deadly for any unsuspecting wildlife that nests or even snoozes in the area.

220323 mink (2)

This is not a native species; it’s an American mink (Neovison vison), whose ancestors escaped or were deliberately released from fur farms around 70 years ago (they were first recorded breeding in the wild in the 1950s). They are the reason why Water vole numbers plummeted in the 1990s, and have caused huge damage to bird populations in various places (the Mammal Society website has more information). A creature that’s cute but also deadly.

220323 mink (1)

Like this:

Like Loading...

V is for vole

27 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

British mammals, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, vole, Water vole

Only one animal has featured in this countdown to date so I decided we needed another, and what better than a cute little Ratty – Water vole, that is, not Brown rat, though I see rather more rats than Ratties these days. If you’ve been following along here for a while you may remember this handsome little beastie that was munching away on reeds in the brook at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park back in May.

211227 water vole

Like this:

Like Loading...

F is for fox

11 Saturday Dec 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

British mammals, fox, Red fox

Though often more common than we realise, especially in urban locations, the fox is still quite an elusive creature, and I’m seldom lucky enough to see one – or, if I do, it’s often just a fleeting glimpse as one crosses my path in the distance (as happened back in July). Better those fleeting glimpses though, than the sight of a dead fox lying beside a busy road (as happened very recently), which is very upsetting to see.

211211 fox

Like this:

Like Loading...

Sick rabbit, dead fox

30 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British mammals, dead fox, fox, rabbit, sick rabbit

During Sunday’s walk I came across this very sick-looking rabbit, sitting at the end of a local no exit road. I don’t think it had been hit by a car – no obvious signs of injury, and I doubt it had myxomatosis – eyes clear and bright. But, later, on Twitter, a contact suggested it might have had RVHD2 (rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease) as that often shows no outward signs. The only positive thing about that diagnosis is that the rabbit usually dies quickly, instead of suffering the horrific lingering torture of myxomatosis.

211130 sick rabbit

Monday’s walk took me round various Cardiff streets on the hunt for particular leafmines (more on that next Monday) and, sadly, this time I found a dead fox. In this case, I think the poor creature probably was hit by a car as it was lying just off the verge of a very busy road.

211130 dead fox

I was almost dreading what today’s walk might bring but I’m extremely relieved to report that I found nothing injured or deceased!

Like this:

Like Loading...

The squirrel’s tail

23 Tuesday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British mammals, grey squirrel, squirrel's tail

This must be the strangest thing I’ve found when out leafmining: part of a Grey squirrel’s tail. There was no sign of the rest of the squirrel and the tail was lying right next to a busy road, so I’m guessing the creature narrowly escaped death by car but is now looking much less bushy!

211123 squirrel's tail

Like this:

Like Loading...

Opportunists

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

brown rat, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, rat, Rattus norvegicus

The rat population at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park is thriving thanks to the generosity of those folk who leave seed for the birds. The rodents are fearless opportunists and extremely cheeky, approaching to grab their share of the bounty even before people have stepped away, but they do at least share the seed with the birds. The rats stuff their mouths full of seed and scuttle away, whereas the squirrels monopolise the seed, staying put and not allowing the birds to approach.

211117 rats

Like this:

Like Loading...

Shrew, deceased

02 Thursday Sep 2021

Posted by sconzani in mammal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

British mammals, dead shrew, Pygmy shrew, shrew

It almost looks like it’s sleeping, recovering from scurrying rapidly about by taking a short nap on the warm bare earth … but no. A tiny four centimetres in length, furry tailed and the tail about two thirds the length of its body so, I think, a Pygmy shrew. The words from a Neil Young song spring to mind: ‘It’s better to burn out than to fade away’ – this little shrew lived, and died, those lyrics.

210902 pygmy shrew

Like this:

Like Loading...

Mole paws

02 Monday Aug 2021

Posted by sconzani in mammal

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

British mammals, European mole, Mole, Mole front paw, Mole paws, Talpa europaea

It’s always sad to find a dead creature (and this was only my second ever Mole sighting, both dead) but it was a chance to take a closer look at one, in this case at its amazing front paws.

210802 mole paw (2)

These are highly specialised digging tools, of course, but I’ve only just found out while researching this post that Moles have an extra thumb, called a prepollex, though it’s not really a thumb but rather an extended wrist bone. As the Live Science website explains:

the mole’s extra thumb sprouts from a bone in its wrist, with the thumb-bone growing parallel to the “normal” inner thumb; but that’s where the similarities stop. The outer thumb doesn’t have any moving joints, consisting of a single, sickle-shaped bone that develops later than the inner thumb and the rest of the mole’s fingers.

210802 mole paw (1)

As the extra bone is rigid and extends the width of the Mole’s palm, it is thought to help this little mammal dig its underground tunnels more efficiently. Amazing!

Like this:

Like Loading...

Red fox

14 Wednesday Jul 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British mammals, fox, Red fox

Imagine my surprise when I looked up from photographing a butterfly yesterday to see this magnificent creature watching me from further along the woodland ride. I managed to get just a few snaps before it turned tail and disappeared into the undergrowth.

210714 fox

Like this:

Like Loading...

Baby bunny

26 Saturday Jun 2021

Posted by sconzani in animals, mammal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

British mammals, Forest Farm, Forest Farm Nature Reserve, rabbit, young rabbits

It’s not only birds you can see from a bird hide. When I enjoyed my first (post-lockdown) wander in 18 months at Forest Farm Nature Reserve yesterday, I naturally visited both bird hides to see what was about. I didn’t venture inside the hides, thought it safer to peer through the slots in the tall fences on either side, and, though I did see one particularly beautiful bird, it was actually the family of young rabbits that held my attention. This little cutie was adorable. Those ears!

210626 baby bunny

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

View Full Profile →

Follow earthstar on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent blog posts

  • Another new leafhopper May 16, 2022
  • Twayblades May 15, 2022
  • The return of Zorro May 14, 2022
  • May bugs May 13, 2022
  • Glowing in the grass May 12, 2022

From the archives

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

COPYRIGHT

Unless otherwise acknowledged, the text and photographs on this blog are my own and are subject to international copyright. Nothing may be downloaded or copied without my permission.

Click on the category

'Dedicated Naturalist' Project 365DaysWildin2019 amphibian animals autumn birds coastal fauna flowers fungi geology insects ladybird leaves lichen mammal molluscs nature nature photography parks plants reptiles seaside seasons spiders spring trees walks weather wildflowers winter

Fellow Earth Stars!

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • earthstar
    • Join 564 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • earthstar
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: