Welcome to the mammal gallery
Images of the mammals are not as yet extensive, but more images will be added as time goes by! There are several species of mammal at the reserve if you are lucky enough to spot & photograph them, (not always easy). I have however seen mink, weasel, rat, & otter has also been reported to be in the river Taff which forms the boundary of the reserve.
Salmon run.
Salmon run.
Autumn Fox
Autumn Fox
Horses
Grazing
On the run
Mother & foal
Mother & foal
Foal close up!
Bull
Over friendly bulls
Red Fox
Red fox cub
Fox cub
Red Fox
Grey Squirrel
Grey Squirrel
Rabbit
Rabbit
Wood mouse
Red Fox
Taken at Radyr weir,salmon on their annual migration back to where they were born for breeding!
Although not a mammal strictly speaking, this is a sight not to be missed. taken at Radyr weir, its great to see the return of these fish!
The annual eostrous period of female red foxes last from 1 to 6 days. Ovulation is spontaneous and does not require copulation to occur. The exact time of eostrous and breeding varies across the broad geographic range of the species: December-January in the south, January-February in the central regions, and February-April in the north. Males will fight during the breeding season. Males have a cycle of fecundity, with full spermatogenesis only occurring from November to March. Females may mate with a number of males but will establish a partnership with only one male. Copulation usually lasts 15 or 20 minutes and is often accompanied by a vocal clamor. Implantation of the fertilized egg occurs between 10 and 14 days after a successful mating. Just before and for a time after giving birth the female remains in or around the den. The male partner will provision his mate with food but does not go into the maternity den. Gestation is typically between 51 and 53 days but can be as short as 49 days or as long as 56
Taken from the bird hide.
Behaviour
Territory Size
5 to 12 km^2
Red foxes are solitary animals and do not form packs like wolves. During some parts of the year adjacent ranges may overlap somewhat, but parts may be regularly defended. In other words, Vulpes vulpes is at least partly territorial. Ranges are occupied by an adult male and one or two adult females with their associated young. Individuals and family groups have main earthen dens and often other emergency burrows in the home range. Dens of other animals, such as rabbits are often taken over by foxes. Larger dens may be dug and used during the winter and during birth and rearing of the young. The same den is often used over a number of generations. Pathways throughout the home range connect the main den with other resting sites, favored hunting grounds and food storage areas. Red foxes are terrestrial and either nocturnal or crepuscular. Top speed is about 48 km/h and obstacles as high as 2 m can be leapt.
Obviously does'nt need description, save to say that forest farm was once a working farm, and still retains some of the usual farm animals that you would expect to see!
Whilst walking around the reserve, these beautiful horses will follow along the fence line in the hopes of a tit bit, which they often get from the regular visitors.
Born quite recently, this little one will readily come to you for a tit bit, under mothers watchful eye of course!
Another shot of these two!
Although endearing, it makes you feel guilty when this little one comes to you for food, and you've forgotten yer carrots!
One of four that were kept at the farm, but I must admit have not seen recently!
Need I say more!
Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
Size: An adult fox is about 70 cms from head to tail, and the bushy tail or 'brush' is around 40 cms long.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year
Habitat: Foxes are creatures of open countryside, but they are also frequently seen in towns and cities.
Food: Mostly rats, mice, voles and moles. In towns they will scavenge household scraps from gardens and dustbins.
Special features: They are mostly nocturnal, but can sometimes be seen during the daytime.
In the winter their fur coat becomes thicker to help insulate them from the cold weather.
Mating occurs in late December, and this is the time of year when foxes are at their noisiest. After dusk the males emit a short loud bark, and the females answer with an eerie scream which sounds frighteningly human.
This youngster spent some time checking me out in the bird hide, but hung around for about forty pics to be taken.
Another shot taken in the series of pics!
Latin name: Vulpes vulpes
Size: An adult fox is about 70 cms from head to tail, and the bushy tail or 'brush' is around 40 cms long.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year
Habitat: Foxes are creatures of open countryside, but they are also frequently seen in towns and cities.
Food: Mostly rats, mice, voles and moles. In towns they will scavenge household scraps from gardens and dustbins.
Special features: They are mostly nocturnal, but can sometimes be seen during the daytime.
In the winter their fur coat becomes thicker to help insulate them from the cold weather.
Mating occurs in late December, and this is the time of year when foxes are at their noisiest. After dusk the males emit a short loud bark, and the females answer with an eerie scream which sounds frighteningly human.
Latin name: Sciurus carolinensis
Size: Body approximately 25cms. The tail is around 20cms.
Distribution: can be found throughout most of southern England (except the Isle of Wight), Wales, Some parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Months seen: All year.
Habitat: Woodland, parks and gardens.
Food: Eats mostly nuts and seeds. The front teeth of the grey squirrel are continually growing, and to prevent them getting too long, they need to constantly nibble on something to grind them down.
Special features: The grey squirrel is a native of north-east America. Its range there stretches from Quebec down through New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
It was first recorded in Britain in the 1820s, but they were not released into the wild until 1876.
Latin name: Sciurus carolinensis
Size: Body approximately 25cms. The tail is around 20cms.
Distribution: can be found throughout most of southern England (except the Isle of Wight), Wales, Some parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Months seen: All year.
Habitat: Woodland, parks and gardens.
Food: Eats mostly nuts and seeds. The front teeth of the grey squirrel are continually growing, and to prevent them getting too long, they need to constantly nibble on something to grind them down.
Special features: The grey squirrel is a native of north-east America. Its range there stretches from Quebec down through New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
It was first recorded in Britain in the 1820s, but they were not released into the wild until 1876.
Latin name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
Size: Grows to around 45cms long.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year round.
Habitat: Farmland, grassland and sometimes gardens. They live in underground burrows, known as 'warrens'.
Food: Rabbits eat many types of vegetation including grass and farm crops. Where rabbits graze on downlands they form an essential habitat for butterflies and other insects.
Special features: Rabbits were probably introduced into Britain from France in the 11th century by the Normans, who kept them for meat and fur. Descendents of the few which escaped from captivity can now be seen throughout the U.K.
A female rabbit can produce around 20 offspring each year, which are known as kittens. As a result the rabbit is now the most commonly seen mammal in Britain. In winter the population numbers around 40 million. When the population peaks in summer there can be as many as 300 million!
Latin name: Oryctolagus cuniculus
Size: Grows to around 45cms long.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year round.
Habitat: Farmland, grassland and sometimes gardens. They live in underground burrows, known as 'warrens'.
Food: Rabbits eat many types of vegetation including grass and farm crops. Where rabbits graze on downlands they form an essential habitat for butterflies and other insects.
Special features: Rabbits were probably introduced into Britain from France in the 11th century by the Normans, who kept them for meat and fur. Descendents of the few which escaped from captivity can now be seen throughout the U.K.
A female rabbit can produce around 20 offspring each year, which are known as kittens. As a result the rabbit is now the most commonly seen mammal in Britain. In winter the population numbers around 40 million. When the population peaks in summer there can be as many as 300 million!
Latin name: Apodemus sylvaticus
Size: The wood mouse measures between 8 and 9 cms. from nose to tail, and the tail is about the same length.
Distribution: Found throughout the UK.
Months seen: All year round
Habitat: Woodlands, fields and hedgerows. Will also come into houses in winter months.
Food: Mostly seeds, nuts and berries.
Special features: Also known as the Long Tailed Field Mouse, for obvious reasons, this is the most common British mammal. The fur is a yellow-brown colour on the back, while the belly and underside fur is a creamy-white. It has big black eyes, and prominent ears.
Wood mice are notoriously fast breeders. A female wood mouse can produce six litters of up to nine young every year. The young are fully weaned after 18 days. However, wood mice have plenty of predators to keep their numbers in check including stoats, weasels, & owls!
Taken from the bird hide at approx 3.30pm. as you can see I have been spotted, but he seems totally unconcerned.A few days prior to this I spotted him with a moorhen, one of its hunting trips bore fruit, at this time of year it would have been feeding cubs.
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Salmon run.
Taken at Radyr weir,salmon on their annual migration back to where they were born for breeding!