You would be forgiven for thinking, that given the somewhat exotic nature of species lost already, that this was, in fact, a tropical problem, though you would be wrong. And Britain’s amphibians too find themselves in hot water.
Autumn is a season like no other; one of colour, action and perpetual movement. A season which I cherish above all others, which marks the start of a number of subliminal wild spectacles, as many species begin preparations for the winter
This past week saw the launch of a new petition. One calling for a moratorium on the shooting of critically declining species of wading birds, such Snipe, Golden Plover and Woodcock, in the UK. Stopping short of calling for an all-out ban, favouring instead a halt to the killing, during which proper research into the species declines can be undertaken. He hopes, by an independent research body.
Following the publication of Cat Wars, a new book by American author Peter P. Marra, our feline friends have found themselves at the epicentre of a heated debate regarding their supposed ecological impact.
In the forests many species are forced to live on the edge of their habitat, with a study showing that 90% of tropical amphibian and reptile species are vulnerable to the ‘edge effect’. Scientists are now calling for a new approach to forest conservation and management.
It may surprise you to learn that the New Forest, one of our few remaining relics of a more holistic Britain, is crumbling. From the inside out.
I posted last week about the dietary habits of the Otter (Lutra lutra). Well, carrying on from this, I thought that I would follow-up with the initial results from a personal study. The extract below is heavily condensed but gives an insight into the diet of otters on the River Petteril, Cumbria.
The Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is an incredibly opportunistic predator with prey diversity varying greatly across its range in the Northern Hemisphere.
The European commission now look set to begin a full infraction procedure over what it sees as a direct breach of the EU habitats directive with the UK failing to protect its vulnerable blanket bogs.