Babies Abound

We were wondering what young wildlife we would have this year at the Centre, what with our recent decisions to stop breeding fox cubs and to have a years hiatus from breeding wildcats, but it seems the BWC is still going to be a home to many cubs, kitts and kittens again in 2012.

Of course we have the usual mice, rats and voles. Muntjac deer are continuing to breed and we have high hopes for our new polecat pair as well as our existing pair and some new owl chicks are bound to follow before the Summer.

But for now, we have a young stoat with hopes for more to follow as seen above. Our red squirrels are so far breeding well, and the young kittens in the walkthrough enclosure are beginning to come out and explore. Our rabbits have had their first litter for this year, and of course Ellis is continuing to be the star attraction when he is here after the fox keeper talks.

Do come and see some of our youngsters this weekend... the stoats will be off display still for a few weeks, but all our other kits are out and about and our red squirrels in particular are a joy to watch as they are finding their feet in the walkthrough enclosure.

New Polecats

The polecat is one of the seven native weasels we have in Great Britain. During the first half of the 20th Century they reached record low numbers, but have been a success story during the second half spreading back from their stronghold in Wales eastwards and north through the country. Their success has been fuelled mainly by the recovery of rabbits after the effects of myxamatosis and the re-introductions of polecats in several areas.

We have bred polecats here at the Centre for many years now. All or individuals belong to the studbook and so we have helped, in many cases directly, with the re-introduction efforts.

Therefore we are pleased to say we have a new potential breeding pair that arrived at the BWC this week.

Joining "Storm & Velvet" we have a new 1 year old male called "Cassius" and a young female called "Mags". They are currently housed separately, but adjacent, in the two pens opposite our main polecat enclosure. Over the coming weeks they will hopefully get used to each other before we allow them together to potentially form a second breeding pair.

Once again, any young polecat kitts born here this year will potentially go for release to aid with their comeback in England.

Ellis settling in well

Ellis - Wendy Salisbury

Apologies, I feel I have let you all down as I can not bring you new photos of Ellis in the photographic pen. But can you blame me?... When we were up there on Saturday it was a choice between Ellis and the adders dancing again! Come on?... And Sunday, well that was the first sightings of the female adders... I mean, it's a no-brainer right? OK, I admit Ellis is a cutie, but ADDERS!!!!

Nevertheless, check out this stunning photograph above taken by Wendy Salisbury. I think you will all agree that it seems Ellis is settling in well in his new role of "Most photographed fox cub ever" He was not phased at all by the people watching him and clicking cameras, and he will be out again this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday.

Follow the link above to see more of Wendy's photography.

Meanwhile, it seems we have another budding photographer in the midst. Check out this photo by keeper Rich (he's the chubby one if you are not sure.)

Ellis - Rich Ide 

... Not bad huh? Rich is really beginning to get into the photography side of things, and keen to learn more, but he is a little shy. So any of you photographers our there please do make yourself known to him and help him out a little with his isos and apertures.

Who knows, maybe in another year or two I won't be the only award winning photographer the BWC has to offer ;-)

Come see Ellis this weekend if you haven't already, he is growing fast.