Red Squirrel Kittens

This year has been a very successful year so far with our breeding red squirrels. Most of our holding group members have currently got litters of red squirrels running around, and we have several litters in our off-display breeding pens ready to be moved on.

Currently we are just looking to re-organise what we have both on and off site, but have plans for creating new breeding pairs in other locations around the country and are possibly helping with another pilot release programme later this year. More news on this to follow over the summer.

We have a litter of kittens in our walkthrough enclosure, but I thought I would show you this little handsome chap in one of our breeding pens. It is difficult to see on the photo, but his flanks, ear tufts and tail are very pale in colour. Stunning!

Don't forget members evening this coming Saturday!

Introducing Pine Martens

It is that time of year again when we introduce our pine martens together for the breeding season. As you know, I am desperate to breed ours as they are the last mammal for us to successful breed here at the Centre. Although we haven't bred them yet, the good news is that we have got them to live together each summer... a tricky task in itself, and each year we seem to get a little bit closer so... fingers crossed again this year.

I used to be on tenterhooks when introducing Bonnie and Clyde together, but they get on so well (maybe too well for breeding), that I had no fear this year, and using the run systems like we do each year today was the day when we opened them up and allowed them to meet face to face.

As usual, they pretty much ignored each other, but in a few weeks they will hopefully mate as they have in previous years, and then it is fingers crossed until next year to see if it has been successful.

While I was too busy keeping an eye on them, and making sure it all went well, it seemed Clyde was busy keeping an eye on me!.. Reassuring me I had nothing to worry about. Either that or he was impressed with the "Crocs"!...

We will still keep a close eye on them over the coming weeks to make sure they are settled, and not causing problems. We have not introduced Hamish and Buttons as Hamish is being... well... a bit of a sod to be honest, but we will see if it is possible in a weeks time. We may not risk it though as Buttons is an old girl now, and so possibly past the breeding age.

For more Pine Marten photos, click on the "More BWC Photos" tab above.

Deer Fawns

We have recently had our first fallow deer fawn born at the centre for this year. Fallow deer have a slightly shorter gestation than red deer, so despite mating later in the year, they still give birth around about the same time.

This little one above was still finding his feet, but it is amazing how quickly they do start to bound around. Within 15 minutes of being born they will be up on their feet. Admittedly, very wobbly and falling over occasionally, but it doesn't take them long.

While this young though, most of the time you will find them tucked up in the grass while the mother goes off to feed.

Only occasionally going back to feed the youngster, and move them on to another spot. This is why it is so important to think twice before approaching a lone fawn in the wild. What may appear to be an abandoned fawn, may well just have been left while the mother goes to feed and she will come back to collect them later. But once any human scent is on the baby, it is then very likely that the mother will abandon the fawn.

If you do come across a baby deer, and are concerned, the best thing to do is check the spot again later in the day... chance are it will no longer be there as it would of been collected by the mother.

Back to our red deer calves. They are doing extremely well, and on last count we currently have six of them. You can see two above already big enough to follow the rest of the herd around.

They vary in age, and so many are still tucked up in the grass. You can see below how easy it would be to pass them with out ever knowing they were there... and this is in relatively short grass too!

So, keep your eyes open for deer fawns and calves this weekend if you are planning on making a trip to see us, and click on the "More BWC Photos" tab above for more photos of our fallow deer.