Worcestershire Record No. 22 April 2007 pp. 12-13
Harry Green
As mentioned in Worcestershire Record No 21 page 17 we have started work on preparing material for the forthcoming Atlas and several maps prepared from the data we now hold are printed here with associated notes. To remind readers, this annotated atlas will give a picture of the mammals found in Worcestershire during the decade around the millennium. The collection of data for the Atlas ended in 2006 but we do of course wish to continue receiving mammal records at the WBRC.
HELP, HELP
The maps we are preparing (showing distributions at 1x1 km square level) do
show a lot of gaps and there is still time to help fill some of these from old
records of both common and uncommon species. If you have records please send
them in. Think of the area in which you live (or an area your know well) and if
you know you have seen mammals there in the last five years please send in the
records. These can be as basic as :
Year of record, 1x1 km grid square, place name, mammal species, and your contact details.
The urban area in the NE of VC37 is short of all records so any from that area would be particularly useful
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| Brown Rat. Everyone knows that rats are common everywhere but we are surprisingly short of records. Myth has it that you are never more than 50 yards from a rat but according to our first maps you could be 10 km from the nearest rat – unlikely perhaps! | House Mouse. There is probably a real decline in this species so any additional records would be of particular interest. The species used to be common in dwelling houses but in many areas has been replaced by Wood Mouse |
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| Wood Mouse. It is astonishing that we have more records for Wood Mouse than House Mouse. Some of these records are from “the wild” but many are from dwelling houses, especially in country areas, where they can be a serious domestic problem. | Dormouse. In Worcestershire all records are from west of the Severn although we have heard of a possible record in central Worcestershire. They are probably found in many western woods and big hedgerows. Additional records may help to enhance the map. |
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| Hedgehog. This species is well distributed throughout the county although perhaps less common than perhaps 20 years ago, Far fewer are now seen dead on the roads. | Muntjac. This species has been increasing steadily for many years and is probably commoner than the map suggests. |
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| Fallow Deer. Along with other deer this species is also increasing. The three main centres are probably Wyre Forest, SE Worcestershire (especially around Bredon Hill), and the Weethley Wood area on the Warwickshire border |
Roe Deer. This species is also increasing throughout the county. |
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