This week, from Friday 23rd October through to Sunday 1st November 2020, is National Mammal Week.
National Mammal Week is organised by the Mammal Society as a celebration and awareness week of mammals and their conservation in the UK.
At the end of July 2020, the first official Red List for British Mammals was published .... see here and here. Produced by the Mammal Society for Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and NatureScot, it showed that of the 47 mammals native to the UK, 11 are classified as being "at imminent risk of extinction", with a further 5 species classified as "near threatened".... see here. The destruction or degradation of natural habitats, alien invasive species and historic persecution are the main cause of the decline in the populations of many UK mammals.
However, on a more cheerful note, National Mammal Week also gives me an opportunity to showcase some of my favourite UK mammals.
A long-time favourite is the Otter which I have seen on an almost annual basis for many years at various locations in north and west Scotland (but not this year for obvious reasons). I have also seen this species at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in east Norfolk and on the River Little Ouse at Santon Downham in Thetford Forest on the Suffolk and Norfolk border.
Photo: Otter at Broadford Bay, Skye, Highland
Another favourite is the rare but increasing Pine Marten which I first saw on an evening mammal watch trip with Speyside Wildlife in the Cairngorms in Scotland in May 2005. Since that time, I have also seen them regularly during week-long stays at Mingarry Lodges in western Scotland in September 2015, September 2016 and September 2019 plus a few chance encounters elsewhere in north and west Scotland over the years.
Photo: Red Squirrel at Mingarry Lodges, Mingarry, Moidart, Highland
Photo: Red Squirrel at Freshfield National Trust reserve, Formby Point, Merseyside
There are 2 mammals that have produced many wonderful experiences during the last 6 months at one of my local patch sites, St. Nicholas Church and surrounding areas: Red Fox and Badger. I have got to know both species very well through observation and reading several books about their ecology.
On 9th May 2020, I discovered the location of a family of Red Foxes, a vixen and her 4 very small cubs, and I have continued to watch them regularly since that time although the cubs are now well grown and often hard to distinguish from an adult. Here are some of the many photos that I have managed to take, starting with 2 photos of the vixen and then several of the cubs:
Photo: Red Fox at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cubs at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Red Fox cub at Laindon, Essex
Photo: Badger at British Wildlife Centre
Photo: Badger at British Wildlife Centre
Finally, I am now going to cheat 😀. I am including most definitely a favourite mammal although I have yet to record it at either of my local patch sites and I am very unlikely to do so any time soon 😀. Therefore I am not sure that it can be celebrated during the UK's National Mammal Week but it is going to get an honorary mention anyway since it is a magnificent animal and it was formerly present in the UK. It is Ursos arctos, the Brown Bear .... see here for more information on its status and distribution as a UK mammal.
I have seen several Brown Bears on 3 separate trips to north east Finland at Pirtttivaara (Martinselkonen Wilds Centre), Lentiira (Wild Brown Bear Centre) and Kuntilampi (Bear Kuusamo). All these sites are close to the border between Finland and Russia and provide almost guaranteed sightings of Brown Bears. Here is probably my best photo from many of the magnificent Karhu:
Photo: Brown Bear at Pirtttivaara, Suomussalmi, Kainuu, Finland
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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