Stoat Spotted

Total hours to date: 3 Hours

I have been out for a couple of walks in the last two weeks and took my Mammal Mapper app with me as per my post from 5th October. This was to track signs of wild mammals in the area for a nationwide database, to allow them to see the spread of different mammals through the country. 

Unfortunately I didn't see any signs at all! The weather has been very wet and windy, and the river I walk along has been high, so any signs may have been washed away. 

However, this evening I did spot a Stoat running along our back fence, unfortunately too fast to get a photograph but registered on the app as a sighting. 

 

The Wildlife Trusts (2020) Stoat.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/stoat  

Stoats live in habitats which have sufficient ground cover, as they do not being out in the open, and a good supply of food. They can be spotted in gardens as well as coastal and river areas. As we live backing onto grazing fields and open fell, their main food here would be rabbits and rodents.   


 Reflections    

       'More learning can be derived from retrospective reflection on the process of learning from an experience than from the experience itself'. (Posner 1996).

 Unfortunately this activity was not a great success, due to having bad weather which makes spotting signs difficult. Also, the fact that we can only travel a certain distance in lockdown restricts the areas I can use.  

This has encouraged me to research more about mammals and their tracks in our countryside and back gardens which will increase my knowledge. This will also allow me to be able to spot more animal tracks or signs for future surveys.    

 

References  

Posner, G. J. (1996). Field Experience: A Guide to Reflective Teaching. White Plains, NY, Longman. 

Wildlife Trust (2020), Stoat, www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/stoat. Viewed 26/10/2020.  

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