Mammal Society

Water shrews are secretive, solitary mammals that live in wetland habitats like streams, fens and ponds. They're our largest shrew, and have stiff hairs on their feet and tail that help them swim and hunt for insect larvae underwater with their sharp, red-tipped teeth. Most bizarrely, they have a venomous bite. One that's strong enough to immobilise small fish, frogs, and even other mammals like mice and voles. Water shrews, Neomys fodiens, can take down prey that are up to 60 times heavier than themselves, including crustaceans, snails and newts. But don't worry—a water shrew bite isn't likely to break human skin or cause serious harm. Photo: (3) Katie Nethercoat #WaterShrew #Environment #Biology #Zoology #Conservation #Wildlife #Nature #BritishWildlife #Mammals

We're excited to share a new study where the authors assessed the conservation status and future perspectives for New World marsupials, linking recent taxonomic revisions with population trends, threats and research needs. Authors: Gabriel M Martin, Ana Paula Carmignotto https://buff.ly/3Asep32 #conservation #wildlife #marsupials #science

📣🦫 EARLY BIRD Annual Conference 2025 tickets now available! Join us for our 70th Annual Conference for two packed days of inspiring keynote speakers, workshops, networking and much more. Located this year in North Wales, close to the biodiverse waters of the Menai Strait and the red squirrel stronghold on Anglesey, the conference will explore discoveries, challenges, innovations and best practice in the worlds of terrestrial and marine mammal science and conservation. 📆 28 - 29 March 📍 Bangor, Wales 🫰 £75 to £275 Bringing together diverse stakeholders from the world of mammalogy and mammal conservation to allow exchange of ideas, foster collaboration and partnership, and celebrate achievements and discoveries in the vibrant world of mammal conservation. Use code ‘EARLYBIRD’ to get 10% off any ticket. Book now: https://buff.ly/3T2kdXo Let us know in the comments if you're joining us in Bangor next year! #NatureCommunication #MammalConservation #MammalSociety #Rewilding #UKMammals #UKWildlife #WildlifeConservation

Who is Britain's cleverest mammal? We have 7 top contenders: 🐋Orca: Orca have very developed social structures and communication strategies, such as taking part in trends, grieving, and communicating in dialects. They also show self-awareness, as they can recognise themselves in a mirror. 🐬Bottlenose dolphin: Dolphins also have complex social systems and communication strategies, such as playing games and even identifying each other with ‘names’ of signature whistles. They also show self-awareness, as they can recognise themselves in a mirror. 🦊Red fox: Foxes are highly adaptable and opportunistic, making use of a range of habitats and foods. They can communicate with a wide range of calls, facial expressions and body postures, and domesticated foxes can understand commands like dogs. 🐀Rat: Rats can assess risks and make strategic decisions. They can also be taught tricks, solve puzzles, and have a great memory. 🐿️Grey squirrel: Squirrels are capable of deceiving other animals by fake-burying their food, as well as using a developed spatial memory to remember where they really buried it. Invasive grey squirrels have been shown to be more intelligent than our native reds. 🦦European otter: European otters have been studied using stones as tools - dropping them repeatedly in the water, juggling them, and rolling them on top of each other. 🤓Human: After all, humans are mammals, too! We have complex social structures, problem-solving abilities, tool-use, self-awareness, and the ability to lie and deceive others. So, who do you think is Britain's cleverest mammal? Let us know in the comments. Photo credit: Julia Milne #animals #wildlife #ecology #conservation #britishwildlife #mammals #biology #nature #environment

Did you read Black Ops and Beaver Bombing? 🦫📚 Fiona Mathews, co-author and member our Scientific Advisory Committee, has been featured in the Coffee with Conservationists Podcast. Episode 52 is out now: talking about “Black Ops and Beaver Bombing” 🦫📚 Fiona is Professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex and the founding Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe. She is also a member of the Mammal Society Science Advisory Committee. The SAC use their insight and expertise to inform the Mammal Society’s research priorities, publications, positions and campaigns. Listen to this episode here: https://lnkd.in/g-iCnnuW #Podcast #MammalConservation #Rewilding #UKWildlife

Did you know that badgers are territorial? These omnivores live in groups of between 2-23 individuals in interlinked underground tunnels and nesting chambers, called setts. They are very protective of their setts and leave droppings in latrines to mark the boundaries of their territories, which can be between 30 and 150 hectares large! #badgers #nature #wildlife #environment #conservation #biodiversity

Unfortunately, whilst our Youth Ambassadors were supporting vital marine conservation efforts onboard the ferry, far-right terrorists were targeting communities of colour across the country. One of our Youth Ambassadors, Foujia, comments on the situation: "As an immigrant and a young Muslim woman of colour, it's been heartbreaking to witness the recent hate-filled violence that has spread across the country. To me, conservation is about protecting our planet and our future. Racism has no place in this work if we want to be successful in safeguarding our environment for future generations. It should be our duty to put our differences aside and collectively engage in efforts to raise awareness about the dangers our animals and environment face, and that requires people from different backgrounds to come together and work towards attaining this shared goal."

Last week, four of the Mammal Society's new Youth Ambassadors helped to survey cetaceans between Ullapool and the Isle of Lewis alongside Wild Discovery, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, and CalMac Ferries. This ferry travels daily across the Minch, which is one of the best places in the UK to see marine mammals, but many passengers don't realise the marvels that can be seen from the deck and miss out on once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. By situating a team of experts and trained volunteers on the crossings, we wanted to raise awareness of the potential for wildlife encounters amongst locals and visitors to the Highlands and Islands and spread the message that sightings should be logged and submitted to conservation organisations, such as through the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust's Whale Track app, to contribute vital data that can inform scientific research and conservation actions. Our four Youth Ambassadors, aged 17-18, supported passengers on board the ferries to engage with the surveying and to tune into marine mammal behaviour that was visible from the boat. A huge amount of marine mammal activity was recorded - on one crossing alone, passengers were treated to close encounters with 4 minke whales (including a juvenile), a humpback whale, several pods of common dolphins, and a couple of porpoises. #environment #marinemammals #mammals #nature #wildlife

This derpy-looking bat is a Nathusius's pipistrelle - one of Britain's rarest bats! It was recorded in Britain for the first time in 1940 in the Shetland Islands as a vagrant species, but in the 1990s, it was discovered to be breeding in the UK. Nathusius's pipistrelles catch their insect prey on the wing in a method known as ‘aerial hawking’. They give birth during the summer in maternity colonies 350 individuals strong, which are usually found in wall cavities or under flat roofs of traditional buildings built from stone and brick. These roosts are even shared with other bats, such as soprano pipistrelles. Photo: Paul Kennedy #bats #mammals #britishwildlife #ecology #nature #environment #biodiversity

We need your help to win £5000! The Climate and Environment Special Draw is open for the next 5 days, and we need your nominations to win £5000. To help us win, simply nominate us here before the 16th August: https://buff.ly/46ALG89 #environment #nature #wildlife #climate #biodiversity #mammals