Small Mammal Trapping

Small mammal trapping is one of my favorite conservation science activities. There is the excitement of going on a 'treasure hunt' to find the hidden traps and see if they have been tripped, the anticipation of finding out what is inside, and the joy of getting young people involved and seeing their faces and reactions in getting close to nature in a way many of them never have before.

Yesterday I helped out at a trapping session organised by the Yorkshire Mammal Group and Wharfedale Naturalists at the Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits local nature reserve near Ilkley. It was a busy session, with volunteers from both groups eager to see the results of the overnight trap, and a group of scouts also came along to take part.

The results of the survey were good and we found four species on the site, in good numbers. These were wood mouse (bottom photograph), bank vole (top photograph), field vole and common shrew. There was also evidence of rabbits and fox on the site.

It was nice to take time afterwards to catch up with the group over a spot of lunch in town.