Polecat sighting in Buckinghamshire
29th May 2009
Rare polecats have been spotted at College Lake Nature Reserve near Tring in Buckinghamshire. One lone polecat was first seen poking its head out of its burrow at the beginning of May, but to the delight of everyone on site, it appears that the population has expanded and baby polecat kits have been seen! This is the first confirmed record of breeding polecats in Bucks.
Nancy Reed, the Warden at College Lake Nature Reserve, said: "I first spotted the mother polecat late one evening whilst working on the nature reserve. I was pretty excited as polecats are now very rare because they were once severely persecuted across Britain. Then, a few days ago, four baby polecats were spotted from our ‘Window in the Woods' hide - so we now have a whole family on the reserve! They can be easily spotted by visitors as they come quite close to the hide in daylight, which is unusual for this nocturnal mammal. We think that as they get older, they'll get more cautious and will be less easy to spot. If people would like to see them, it's best to sit quietly and patiently in the hide and don't disturb the burrow or wander off the paths.
Although we were worried about the possibility of them being polecat-ferret crosses, the mother and kits have all the classical features of polecats and we can say with as much confidence as possible that they are the genuine article! Expert mammal recorders have helped us to identify the animals. They have also confirmed that this is the first record of breeding polecats for Bucks - and it's at College Lake which is fantastic news for the Wildlife Trust!"
College Lake Wildlife Centre is owned and managed by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Polecats - the nighttime stars of this years' Springwatch - have long, brown cylindrical bodies, and blunt faces with very recognisable white and brown markings around their eyes, making them look like bandits. Numbers seriously declined in the early 20th century, reaching their lowest ebb in the 1950s. They were considered to be a pest of game and poultry and were persecuted.
They are still threatened by accidental trappings, road deaths and cross-breeding with escaped ferrets which have much paler coats. However, polecats have been undergoing a recent recovery and can be found in rural Wales and parts of England including Cheshire, Avon and Leicestershire.
College Lake Reserve - Former chalk quarry
Polecats set up home in wooded habitats, along riverbanks or even in farm buildings, so the woodland area at College Lake Nature Reserve is a perfect spot. Once a former chalk quarry, College Lake has been transformed by the hard work of staff and volunteers into a thriving wildlife haven supporting over 1,000 species including many wading and migrating birds. There's lots to do on site, with wildlife walks around the lake, marsh and woodlands, and hides from which to watch wildlife. There are also wetland and geology discovery centres.
As part of an ongoing plan to make this one of Bucks premier visitor sites, and thanks to funding from Biffaward and the Heritage Lottery Fund, a new car park has recently been built, proper toilets installed and a new barn has been provided for educational visits and refreshments on Sundays. Plans for a visitor centre on site are also now well underway.
BBOWT's College Lake Nature Reserve is open every day except Mondays, 10am-5pm, with late opening Thursday until 8pm.
Nancy Reed, the Warden at College Lake Nature Reserve, said: "I first spotted the mother polecat late one evening whilst working on the nature reserve. I was pretty excited as polecats are now very rare because they were once severely persecuted across Britain. Then, a few days ago, four baby polecats were spotted from our ‘Window in the Woods' hide - so we now have a whole family on the reserve! They can be easily spotted by visitors as they come quite close to the hide in daylight, which is unusual for this nocturnal mammal. We think that as they get older, they'll get more cautious and will be less easy to spot. If people would like to see them, it's best to sit quietly and patiently in the hide and don't disturb the burrow or wander off the paths.
Although we were worried about the possibility of them being polecat-ferret crosses, the mother and kits have all the classical features of polecats and we can say with as much confidence as possible that they are the genuine article! Expert mammal recorders have helped us to identify the animals. They have also confirmed that this is the first record of breeding polecats for Bucks - and it's at College Lake which is fantastic news for the Wildlife Trust!"
College Lake Wildlife Centre is owned and managed by the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
Polecats - the nighttime stars of this years' Springwatch - have long, brown cylindrical bodies, and blunt faces with very recognisable white and brown markings around their eyes, making them look like bandits. Numbers seriously declined in the early 20th century, reaching their lowest ebb in the 1950s. They were considered to be a pest of game and poultry and were persecuted.
They are still threatened by accidental trappings, road deaths and cross-breeding with escaped ferrets which have much paler coats. However, polecats have been undergoing a recent recovery and can be found in rural Wales and parts of England including Cheshire, Avon and Leicestershire.
College Lake Reserve - Former chalk quarry
Polecats set up home in wooded habitats, along riverbanks or even in farm buildings, so the woodland area at College Lake Nature Reserve is a perfect spot. Once a former chalk quarry, College Lake has been transformed by the hard work of staff and volunteers into a thriving wildlife haven supporting over 1,000 species including many wading and migrating birds. There's lots to do on site, with wildlife walks around the lake, marsh and woodlands, and hides from which to watch wildlife. There are also wetland and geology discovery centres.
As part of an ongoing plan to make this one of Bucks premier visitor sites, and thanks to funding from Biffaward and the Heritage Lottery Fund, a new car park has recently been built, proper toilets installed and a new barn has been provided for educational visits and refreshments on Sundays. Plans for a visitor centre on site are also now well underway.
BBOWT's College Lake Nature Reserve is open every day except Mondays, 10am-5pm, with late opening Thursday until 8pm.
