Spring 2008 (Issue 11) Website: www.derbyshiremammalgroup.com Chair In this issue: Dave Mallon 01457 853560 Otters in Derbyshire Koniks and Conservation [email protected] The Incredible Edible Dormouse Biodiversity and Mammals Extra Protection for the Water Vole Where to Watch Mammals Secretary Anna Evans Otter ”Sand Castle‘ Recorder Update 01629 824495 [email protected] Treasurer Steve Lonsdale 01332 737935 [email protected] New Book Group Recorder Debbie Court Mammals of the British 01773 821804 (evenings) [email protected] Isles Website Administrator Handbook, 4 th Edition Dave Alston Edited by Stephen Harris 01773 821804 (evenings) & Derek W. Yalden [email protected] The Handbook of British Mammals is a well established, classic Newsletter Editor reference source for all aspects of information on the mammals in Steve Docker 01335 345253 Britain and Ireland. The third edition, dating to 1991, has long been [email protected] out of press. Over 100 of the leading mammalogists, mostly members of The Mammal Society, have contributed to this revision. It Annual Membership presents an authoritative summary of our current knowledge for all £5 who need it: not only students and academics, but also planners, The Derbyshire Mammal Group conservationists and naturalists. It benefits from a superb collection is affiliated to of colour plates, especially commissioned from Guy Troughton, some The Mammal Society excellent colour photographs of mammal behaviour, and a range of new maps and diagrams. Having collaborated with Blackwell Scientific Publications for the previous 3 editions, The Mammal Society is th publishing this 4 edition itself. Publication is due April 2008 -1- Otters in Derbyshire Helen Perkins A summary of deaths on roads reported to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust‘s Water for Wildlife Project. Badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, hedgehogs and polecats are all regularly recorded as road casualties in Derbyshire and one of the potential conservation benefits of the current DMG atlas project is that mapping may highlight accident black spots, enabling measures for reducing accidents to be considered where appropriate. To date, otter road casualties in the county are relatively few, but it‘s probably to be expected that as otters continue to recover and move into new areas, an increase in otter-road conflicts will be recorded. Otters do not occur at high densities and they are neither long-lived nor very productive animals, so the removal of one otter from the local population is a females, young males often travel long distances considerable set back. The fact that two otters have before establishing territories and, as Derek Yalden been killed on Peak District roads in the last eight suggested recently, males may have to travel long months is therefore something of a tragedy. One of distances to find a female if populations are still at the animals was found on the B6049 between very low levels. Bradwell and Tideswell in May 2007 and the other was picked up from the A53 just outside Buxton in There doesn‘t seem to be any evidence that the January this year. timings of our local otter road casualties are positively correlated with either seasonal rainfall or Cars are a significant cause of otter mortality across river fl ow factors, which was the case in almost all of the UK. A study of UK road casualties between 1971- the incidents in the Philcox et al study. A cursory 1996 (Philcox, G.K., Grogan, A.L. & MacDonald, D. examination reveals that only the dates of the W. 1999) examined data on 673 otters and found that Swarkestone Gravel Pit and Bradwell otter deaths 56% were male. Post mortem analysis of otters correlate with periods of very wet weather. Not undertaken at Cardiff University found that 63% of the surprisingly nearly all (91%) of the road casualties in 104 otters analysed in 2006 were male. the UK study occurred where a road crossed a watercourse. However, this only seems to be an Derbyshire Wildlife Trust holds data for nine otter road obvious factor in five of the nine Derbyshire otters casualties. Three were clearly identified and reported (though the very first record, dating from 1952 has but it was not possible to recover the bodies and gain no details attached to it). One was killed at the further data. The remaining six were seen by people nearest point on the road between Swarkestone experienced at mammal identification and all were Gravel Pit and the main River Trent; an otter killed recorded as male. Four of the Derbyshire road at Borrowash was found close to the road bridge casualties were sent for analysis at Cardiff University. that crosses the Derwent; one was found close to The results of the Buxton otter are awaited, but the point where the A38 crosses Markeaton Brook analysis of the other three revealed that one was a and one was found close to a road that crosses the sub adult male (weighing 4.4 kg), one was a very Amber. Mapping suggests that the otter killed at young male (weighing only 2.2 kg) and the third was a Drakelow may have followed a narrow drain and fully grown adult male (weighing 9kg). It‘s perhaps not crossed the road just over a kilometre from the main surprising that in a county where otters are still River Trent. The routes that the Bradwell, Bakewell recovering, the road casualties recorded to date have and Buxton otters were taking when they met their all been male. Male otters have larger territories than untimely deaths are far from obvious. -2- Given the likelihood of more otters being killed on I‘m hoping to obtain and keep copies of all the reports the county‘s roads it‘s important to ensure that that Cardiff University have carried out on Derbyshire accidents involving otters are thoroughly recorded otters to date. The national otter research initiative at and the sites investigated. Both the Environment the University, which is funded by the Environment Agency and the Highways Agency are committed to Agency, has provided valuable information not only on reducing the mortality of otters on our road network. the sex and stage of otter road casualties, but also on Where new roads are planned measures can be the health and genetics of otters in the UK. For more taken to reduce risks, for example by maintaining information about the Cardiff University Otter Project continuous natural banks above the level of high see: http://www.cf.ac.uk/biosi/staffinfo/chadwick2.html . flows by using either wide span bridges, over sized A follow up piece on the results of the Buxton post culverts or artificial ledges. On existing roads mortem will hopefully appear in the next DMG alterations to structures may be possible and in Newsletter, but in the meantime please contact DWT some cases otter proof fencing can help reduce or the EA immediately if you do see an otter dead on road casualties where roads run close to the road. watercourses. Grid ref Road Site Catchment Date Comments SK253722 A619? Nr Baslow Derwent 1952 Bred in land drain nr cricket field in 1952. One killed on road and other left area soon after. SK386564 A615 Nr South Derwent 1995 Sub adult male, 4.4kg. Post Wingfield mortem carried out by Cardiff University. SK228666 A6 Nr Haddon Derwent 24/12/1997 Juvenile male, 2.2kg. Post mortem Hall carried out by Cardiff University. SK414338 B5010 Borrowash Derwent 24/09/2000 Reported on Borrowash Road by man familiar with mink/otter, right hand side of road, approx 80m before Borrowash Bridge. Not found/collected. SK337374 A38 Above Derwent 19/12/2000 Reported by two separate people Markeaton lying on central reservation of A38 Rd nr Mark. nr bottom of slip road to Derby Island University.Not found/collected. SK231191 Walton Rd, Drakelow Trent 2000 Adult male, 9kg. Post mortem Drakelow carried out by Cardiff University. SK364280 Road n. Trent 26/11/2002 (young?) adult male, 117cm nose Swarkestone to tail with obvious bruising to left GP shoulder and broken back leg. Not sent for analysis. SK171798 B6049 Nr Derwent 26/05/2007 (young?) adult male, body Hazlebadge retained by finder. Hall, Bradwell SK04167225 A53 Buxton side Derwent? 29/01/2008 Otter sent to Cardiff University for of Spot analysis, results awaited. Garage -3- KONIKS ON THE MOVE - Wild Horses moved to KONIK FOAL AT SOUTH SWALE - First wild South Swale horse foal for this new herd This article is reproduced from the Wildwood e-news September 2007 This article is reproduced from the Wildwood e-news March 2008 with the kind permission of the Wildwood Trust. with the kind permission of the Wildwood Trust. Wildwood‘s herd of Wild Horse is set to help Faversham The South Swale herd has produced its first foal last teem with Wildlife. In an innovative, new partnership month. This bold project to enhance the wildlife of the between Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust a herd South Swale Nature Reserve was developed in a of wild horses are being used to help breath life back into partnership between Kent Wildlife Trust and the one of Kent's most important local nature reserves. The Wildwood Trust. Thanks to the horses, the sites wild horses have been allowed to roam free on the south internationally important biodiversity is being enhanced swale local nature reserve since September 2007. and protected. The foal was born on Wednesday 13th February 2008 to the conservation herd of wild horses which were moved to South Swale in September 2007 from Canterbury, where by the action of the wild horses natural grazing the site is being conserved as a haven for rare plants, animals and birds.