Innovative mammal conservation
We were recently asked to write a guest blog for Scottish Invasive Species Initiative, after they caught a couple of polecat-ferrets in their mink traps. This blog is reproduced below. What is a polecat? The polecat is a native mustelid (member of the weasel family) and is closely related to the pine marten, stoat, weasel Read More
12th December 2019
As part of the launch of the new State of Nature report, VWT’s Hilary Macmillan reflects on how the fortunes of Britain’s carnivores have changed. For once we have an environmental good news story – thanks to Britain’s carnivores. In recent history, there was a very real danger of saying goodbye to a sizeable number Read More
12th October 2019
Rob Lucas reflects on his time as a Trustee with VWT. How did you first become involved with VWT? I met Vincent Weir briefly around 1980 when he came down to Slapton Ley Field Centre in Devon where I worked. He had come to see Johnny Birks, who was doing his PhD on American mink, Read More
2nd October 2019
Eurobats 24th Meeting of the Advisory Committee While we may be preoccupied with Brexit, our fellow species, especially highly mobile species like bats, have no such awareness of political boundaries and their effect on freedom of movement. All in all, there are 53 European bat species that are found across continental Europe (from the Caucasus Read More
7th May 2019
Having reached historic population lows by the end of the 19th century, the carnivores of Britain are for the most part enjoying a period of recovery. This recovery was reported in a paper published last month by Katie Sainsbury at the University of Exeter, on which VWT was a key collaborator. In particular, British mustelids have Read More
24th April 2019
My volunteer experience with Vincent Wildlife Trust’s (VWT) Pine Marten Recovery Project (PMRP) came about partly through my connection to Coed y Bont Community Woodland when it started in 2008. This is a community-led woodland project that has seen the creation and maintenance of a 25-hectare woodland site, complete with a picnic site and various Read More
4th April 2019
In January 1992, I made my first venture into the old states of eastern Europe with a bat visit to Poland. Over the previous three years, the communist bloc had started to break up, travel restrictions eased and opportunities were opened up to visit colleagues beyond what had been the Iron Curtain. I hadn’t been Read More
12th February 2019
I volunteer with the Vincent Wildlife Trust in their current project which assesses the effectiveness of Mostela camera traps for monitoring Stoats and Weasels in the UK. This part of the project is taking place on a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) nature reserve in East Yorkshire called North Cave Wetlands. Prior to volunteering with VWT I Read More
11th December 2018
I’m currently in my final year at Newcastle University studying Countryside Management. This is a practical and hands on course which offers a career development module, aimed at gaining experience to benefit future career aspirations. Choosing this module allowed me to work with the Vincent Wildlife Trust’s Pine Marten Project Officer, Kevin O’Hara. The Back Read More
3rd September 2018
I was delighted last year to learn that the 8th International Colloquium on squirrels, an international gathering of squirrel researchers from around the world, would take place on my doorstep at the beginning of June 2018. OK, I admit I exaggerate just a little. I live 22km north of Galway city and the venue for the Read More
30th July 2018