Attenborough Nature Reserve

Mammals

Mammals records for the reserve are not prolific with the majority being for the larger common species or the occasional corpse of smaller mammals. However, the presence of small mammals has been established by trapping studies, whilst scats and spoors have revealed others.
The following list has been compiled from mammal records over the past 20 years and gives a brief account of the abundance of each species.

Hedgehog (Erinaceus europeaus)
Regular reports and sightings show that the Hedgehog is a fairly common species around the reserve.

Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus)
The presence of this small mammal has been proved by trapping studies only.

Common Shrew (Sorex araneus)
The Common Shrew has regularly been reported on the reserve, mostly of dead specimens. Numbers may therefore be underestimated as the carcasses of shrews decompose extremely rapidly.

Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens )
The status of this species is uncertain as occasional sightings only have been reported.

Mole (Talpa europaea)
The occasional corpse and evidence from mole hills suggest that the Mole is reasonably abundant.

Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus)
Long-eared Bats have been caught in mist nets used for bird ringing studies on the reserve.

Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
This extremely small bat is certainly the commonest bat to be seen around the reserve, although sightings have greatly declined over the past 20 years.

Noctule Bat (Nyctalus noctula)
Noctule Bats are often seen in reasonable light, late in the evening. There have been occasional records of this species but again numbers have declined in recent years.

Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
One of the commoner larger species to be seen at the nature reserve with fluctuating numbers from year to year.

Brown Hare (Lapus capensis)
There have been occasional past records from around the reserve but in recent years sightings have been from the far side of the River Trent on the farmland or close to the New Workings at the Long Eaton end of the reserve.

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
The Grey Squirrel is a common species and has increased in numbers over recent years.

Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)
Regular sightings indicate a good population in the area.

Water Vole (Arvicolus amphibius)
This species was once very common but sadly numbers have declined rapidly over the past 20 years and very few if any have been recorded recently. The decline in the population is thought to be partly due to predation by Americam Mink.

Short-tailed Vole (Microtus agrestis)
The presence of this species on the reserve has been proved only by trapping work.

Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)
Nests of this species have been found in Phragmites on the reserve.

Yellow-necked Field Mouse (Sylvaemus flavicollis)
At least one animal has been trapped on the reserve.

Wood Mouse (Sylvaemus sylvaticus)
Evidence of trapping suggests that the Wood Mouse is a fairly abundant species.

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
The Brown Rat although still common has declined in numbers over the past few years.

House Mouse (Mus musculus)
The only records of this species are from Attenborough Village.

Red Fox (Vulpe vulps)
Several dens have been discovered on the reserve and many sightings make this a common predator.

Stoat (Mustela erminea)
The Stoat has been seen occasionally on the reserve but is much less common than it's smaller relative the Weasel.

Weasel (Mustela nivalis)
Regular sightings indicate the Weasel to be a common small predator of the reserve.

Badger (Meles meles)
The first record of a single Badger was reported from the Clifton Pond area on 19 April 2002. This individual was presumably a wandering male.

American Mink (Mustela vison)
There have been several confirmed sightings of this voracious predator since 1996, with other records prior to this date. This introduced species from America is thought to be a large factor in the population crash of the Water Vole.

Otter (Mustela lutra)
Signs of a welcome 'comeback' of the Otter have been found in the last couple of years including scats at a number of sites on the reserve.

Muntjac Deer (Muntiacus muntjak)
Spoors left by this animal suggest that it is an occasional visitor to the reserve.

Mammal sightings appear to have generally declined over recent years for many species. This may be due to destruction of their natural habitat outside of the reserve. It may be due to competition from other species such as the Grey Squirrel or in the case of the Water Vole a combination of habitat destruction and predation by Mink.
Therefore, records of any mammal sightings around the reserve are greatly appreciated and should be sent to Pete Sadler (see Contacts Page).