Celebrating
Cornwall's Mammals
from dormice to dolphins!
The Project
In June 2003 the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall
and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) launched an exciting new
four year project 'Celebrating Cornwall's Mammals - from dormice
to dolphins!’ supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The general aim of the Project was to encourage people to
record the mammals they see as well as the tracks and signs
the mammals leave behind. Whether it was a seal at the seaside,
mole hills, footprints in mud, a mouse caught by a cat, a
hedgehog in your garden or a squashed rabbit on the road,
we wanted to know!
Fox scat and rabbit droppings
Photograph by Alex Howie
There are around 50 species of mammal, including bats and
marine mammals, found in and around Cornwall and the Isles
of Scilly, some common e.g. the rabbit and grey squirrel,
some nationally rare e.g. the dormouse and the otter.
Each year information packs were produced
to help you with the identification of these mammals, their
tracks and signs and how to record them.
Looking at hedgehog droppings
Photograph by Alex Howie
A variety of events were held for all ages and abilities
such as identification workshops and training days, both specific
and general, walks, talks and specific surveys.
By recording what
we see, when we see it, where
we saw it and who we are we can build up
a picture of the County’s mammal population sizes, distributions,
habitat preferences and specific threats.
This information can then be used to help us work towards
conserving our mammals. After all, how can we work towards
conserving our mammals if we don’t know where they are?
Dormouse found in dormouse box Photograph
by Alex Howie
Even though the project finished in May 2007, we
still want you to let us know about all the mammals you see!
Home
| Contact us | Project
details | Recording mammals
| Free mammal identification
packs | Newsletters
| Free downloadable
files
| ERCCIS
| Links
|
