 
Red fox Vulpes vulpes, With its red/brown fur and long bushy tail often tipped with white
fur, the Red Fox is usually active at dusk and night times They have slender
muzzles, with white fur on the top lip and the chest is often white. Regularly
seen around west bank and lake side areas. Habitat, usually found in
woodlands, open country and urban areas. Body length - 50-90cm, Tail length
- 30-50cm and standing height: - 35-45cm. Diet will feed on insects,
earthworms, wild birds, small mammals and food scraps.
Badger Meles meles,
vary greatly in size, with an adult head and body length of 60 to 90 cm; they
weight between 7 and 24 kg. Its colour, black and white striped face, grey body
and black fur on its legs. Habitat, wood and hedgerows are a common habitat
and several families may share the same sett, which comprises of a complex
system of tunnels, sometimes as long as twenty metres and as deep as three
metres below the surface. Diet, Although badgers eat worms, frogs, birds'
eggs, and small mammals they also forage for roots and berries Hibernate,
from October to February, but even then in mild weather they wake up and go out
in search of food.
Mole Talpa europaea,
although the familiar sight of molehills often betrays their presence, moles
themselves are rarely seen. Their short, black velvety fur can lay in either
direction and this allows them to move easily, both backwards and forwards,
through their tunnel system. Habitat, they spend most of their life in a tunnel
system, which they excavate with their powerful spade-like, clawed front paws.
Since they constantly live in the dark, they have tiny eyes and ears. They use
their long sensitive snout to detect their food by touch as their sense of
smell is limited. Diet, with there large appetites they regularly patrol their
network of tunnels to check if any insects or worms have accidentally burrowed
into it.
Hedgehog Erinaceus
europaeus, this cute little mammal, is quite unmistakable with its coating
of about 6000 spines, when in danger it rolls into a ball and uses these spines
as protected. Habitat, Woods, hedgerows, tree trunks and holes in ground
Hibernates during the winter months where its heart rate will drop from 190
to 20 beats per minute. Diet, eats worms, beetles, slugs, fruit and other
small creature it can tackle.
Grey
Squirrel Sciurus
carolinensis, this North American animal was introduced to this country in
the 19th century. Its head and body size is approximately 25 - 30cm and tail
25cm, back and tail are always grey sometimes with a reddish tinge. Habitat,
any woodland area, keeping mainly to trees, making their nest (dray) with
twigs, in the shape of a ball high up in the tree tops. seen throughout the
valley. Diet, acorns, hazel nuts and fruit, also insects and birds eggs.
will also strip the bark to eat the nutritious below.T>
Rabbit Oryctolagus
cuniculus, introduced from France around 950 years ago by the Normans, for
their meat and fur. They are a very familiar sight in our countryside, due to
being active in broad daylight and often quite high numbers. Its colour varies,
but it is usually grey with reddish streaks on the back, and paler
underneath.
Brown Rat Rattus
norvegicus, approximately head and body size 20 - 23cm, tail 20cm. Brownish
grey with pale grey underside, short and hairy ears. Habitat, farms, sewers
and rubbish dumps, also gardens with abundance of hiding places. Diet, will
eat meat in available but mainly cereal and grain.
All
bats are legally protected and roosts should never be
disturbed. Bats, are the only flying mammals, and are often seen
flitting around the valley, especially at dusk. Their wings consist of thin
skin supported on the arms and fingers. Habitat, daylight hours asleep in
hollow trees, buildings and roof spaces. Diet, feed on moths and other small
insects, which are often caught in full flight. Hibernation, usually from
late October to March.
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