Staff

Course Description

This course gives a thorough introduction to shrews, moles, hedgehogs, mice, voles, rats, squirrels, beavers, rabbits and hares. Key features of species identification will be covered including skull & bone examination, population monitoring techniques and field surveys will include ‘long-worth trapping’ and the dissection of owl pellets. Practical and field exercises will involve characteristic field- signs, with a guide to tracks and trails, feeding remains, droppings, nests and burrows. Life cycles, habits and habitats will be also covered in the workshops. The distribution and status of these mammals, including BAP species and wildlife law will be discussed in the light of their individual conservation requirements. Please note this course also covers non-native and invasive species.