Red Squirrel Walk-Through Opens at the British Wildlife Centre

An interesting concept, I wonder how well it work from a visitors point of view. I have never actually been to the collection, is it worth a visit? It seems very similar to the Otter and Owl Centre in the New Forest.
 
I think a squirrel walkthrough is a nice idea and certainly makes a change from lemur walkthroughs so common in other zoos
 
redpanda said:
Nope, although I think they are quite near to each other.
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Well, not really. The New Forest is in, well, says on the tin, while the BWC is not far from London, just outside Gatwick.
And yeah, definately not the same place! :p The British Wildlife Centre has a very strict and comprehensive collection of British natives (meaning no past natives like lynx, wolf and boar which you'd find at the New Forest), and is only open weekends and holidays. Love to visit one day, along with the new red squirrel walk-through the otter lakes there look fantastic.

If anything, the New Forest Wildlife Park is probably more like Wildwood (which makes sense as Wildwood's founder was also the manager of the New Forest when it was Nature Quest).
 
I was at the British Wildlife Centre on Sunday for the IZES meeting and it's a superb place. Photos to follow!
 
I was also there yesterday and agree with Maguari as to it being superb . As for the 'Red Squirrel Walk-Through' , I thought it was well-done with a mix of deciduous and conifers . Cover is provided by a lot of 'leylandii' .There are currently 15 male Red Squirrels in the enclosure though females will be added . It is thought the capacity could be about 30 animals . I only managed a quick glimpse of one in the thick vegetation . The Centre breeds many in smaller enclosures as well as water voles for release .

The British mammal collection is quite extensive though it is the sort of place where you need to spend a lot of time patiently watching an enclosure for a sighting of some of the shyer small mammals . Good views were had of , amongst others , the otters in their excellent large enclosures , 3 pairs of wildcat , very tame foxes , American mink , badgers asleep in their sett , harvest mice , black and brown rats , rabbits and hare . A glimpse of a stoat , roe deer and pine marten in their shelters , were all I had . No sign of weasel ( even the owner could not find it ) polecat , various mice and voles or water shrew ( though Maguari did get a photo ) . Adders were basking in the sunshine .

A most enjoyable day , particularly with the company of so many other Zoo Enthusiasts .
 
Bele said:
I was also there yesterday and agree with Maguari as to it being superb . As for the 'Red Squirrel Walk-Through' , I thought it was well-done with a mix of deciduous and conifers . Cover is provided by a lot of 'leylandii' .There are currently 15 male Red Squirrels in the enclosure though females will be added .
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15 male Red Squirrels and a pair of Reeves' Muntjac. :D

We did manage to spot a squirrel in the open later on.


Bele said:
No sign of weasel ( even the owner could not find it ) polecat , various mice and voles or water shrew ( though Maguari did get a photo ) .
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A photo with a shrew in, rather than a photo of a shrew, I hasten to add! Fairplay to the owner, he really did try to find that weasel but no joy!

Next time I go (for there will be a next time) I'm determined to see that mole!


Bele said:
A most enjoyable day , particularly with the company of so many other Zoo Enthusiasts .
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Yes indeedy - good to see so many there.


Photos will be uploaded later but here's some of the squirrel walkthrough and my best shot (such as it is!) of the very fast-moving European Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens). You'll have to look closely for that one!
 
Just took a look at zootierliste and to my surprise there are no listings for Red Squirrels in the UK there are some for Germany but none for the UK.
I know Dudley have at least four (1:3) they came from another UK collection (can't quite remember were at the moment)
Are there any others or is this the same case as for the Scottish Wildcat (not many Uk zoo's trying to BREED them)
 
There are plenty of UK zoos listed (17 by my count): ZootierlisteHomepage

Are you looking at one of the subspecies that are on there? (jenissejensis or exalbidus)


EDIT: In terms of breeding, all 15 male squirrels in the walkthrough at the BWC were bred on-site, and all their breeding females are believed to be pregnant currently (according to the owner yesterday).
 
I may have done as you said because your link is going to a different page as the one I was sent to after entering Red Squirrel in the search box
Many thanks for your help
 
No worries - it's easily done!
 
Maguari said:
In terms of breeding, all 15 male squirrels in the walkthrough at the BWC were bred on-site, and all their breeding females are believed to be pregnant currently
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If they breed a lot of Red Squirrels, are they involved with any release schemes?
 
Pertinax said:
If they breed a lot of Red Squirrels, are they involved with any release schemes?
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To be honest, I'm not sure without checking, but with the number they've bred I'd be surprised if they weren't involved at least indirectly.
 
I also wonder what the situation is regarding the possible transference of diseases from Grey to Red Squirrels is in a case like this. Presumably wild Greys in the area can have contact with these Reds through the mesh.
 
The Red Squirrel walkthrough at the BWC is not meshed over - it's open-topped with a squirrel-proof fence (though there are refuge cages and the main breeding cages are separate).

There are actually Grey Squirrels (normal and albino) in another exhibit just outside.


I can't remember having seen any particular efforts to keep wild Greys away from Red Squirrels at other zoos and I can't think of any that didn't have part of the exhibit meshed - I would guess it's just not really a problem.
 
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