Hedgehog Hibernation Survey Needs Your Help
A study into the effects of climate change on the survival, and hibernation of Hedgehogs needs you to record any sightings of our most easily recognised native mammal. The results from the survey, the first of its kind, will be used to help scientists understand the hedgehog’s life cycle better, including hibernation.
Warm Weather Brings Unseasonal Wildlife Sightings
The end of November and across the county hedgehogs and other overwintering or hibernating species are still active, roses are still in bloom and many plants are in bud once again. This year has seen the warmest September and October since 2006 with average temperatures 2 degrees centigrade higher than the 1971 – 2000 average, with October being the 8th warmest October seen in the last 100 years.
A New Species for Wiltshire
Receiving a record for an unusual Wiltshire species is always interesting so imagine the excitement when earlier this month we received a record for the first ever sighting of the Small Marbled moth (Eublemma parva) in Wiltshire.
Butterflies Suffer in Cold Summer
The Butterfly Conservation Trust recently released the results of its second Big Butterfly Count, and unfortunately the news is not all good, with an overall 11% decline in the number of butterflies seen per count.
Butterflies are very quick to react to changes in their environment making them ideal biodiversity indicators; their declines forewarn us to declines in other species.
Watch out for Bonfire Visitors
Autumn has arrived with a vengeance and while we look forward to Bonfire night many animals are searching for suitable hibernation spots.
The Hedgehog is well known for making itself at home in wood piles intended for bonfire night, however they are not the only animals to find such places suitable as winter hideaways; frogs, toads and newts will also find such sites ideal.
