Badger

Badger*

Badgers are our largest land carnivore. They are probably found throughout most of our area, except for the major conurbations and the tops of the fells. Oddly, their population appears to be declining in our area, against the national trend.

Stoat & Weasel

Weasel*

Both these russet-furred species seem to be widespread throughout our area. The Stoat preys mainly on rabbits. The smaller Weasel preys mainly on mice and voles. Members of both species will prey on other small animals, which can bring them into conflict with game-keepers and free-range poultry farmers. Stoats have black tips to their tail and upland populations will occasionally turn white in the winter, when they are known as "ermine". Weasels have no black tip to their tail and never turn white.

Otter

Otter*

This aquatic carnivore used to be widespread throughout our area, but declined in the middle of the 20th century to the point where the only population was at Leighton Moss. The cause is thought to have been a combination of pesticide pollution, habitat loss through 'channelisation' of rivers and persecution. Following legal protection in 1981 and a series of habitat improvement projects by The Wildlife Trusts, the Environment Agency and United Utilities plc they have since recovered somewhat and are now found on most of the Lune catchment and much of that of the Ribble (including the Hodder). There may also be a small population on the Wyre. A single male otter was run over on a minor road in the Douglas catchment at Standish, Greater Manchester some years ago - so the population may be expanding faster than we realised! However, there have been no confirmed coastal sightings as yet.

Further information on Otters can be found here

Pine Marten

Tantalising sporadic records suggest that this species, assumed to be extinct in our area, may just survive!

North American Mink

North American Mink*

This introduced species escaped into the wild from fur farms in the 20th century and is now well established. Its main prey consists of fish, birds and small mammals.

Foxes

Red Fox*

The Red Fox is the only surviving native member of the Dog Family in our area, wolves having probably become extinct by the 17th century. It is widespread in our towns and countryside, and is probably the most abundant and widespread carnivore in the world.

Admired by some people for its beauty and reputation for cunning and welcomed as an agent of rabbit control in rural areas growing vegetable crops, it is loathed by others for its depredations on poultry and game, tearing of bin-bags in a search for food, and late-night yelping and screaming during the breeding season in late winter and early spring. The male is knows as a 'dog', the female as a 'vixen', the young as 'cubs', and a fox's dwelling as an 'earth' or 'den'. Active earths have a strong acrid smell and may often be adapted from rabbit or badger burrows.

Rural foxes mainly eat rabbits, hares, field voles and berries, while those in towns will also scavenge from bird tables and dustbins. Foxes also eat beetles, birds' eggs, earthworms, and fallen fruit.

A litter of four to eight cubs is usually born in March. The newborn cubs weigh about a hundred grams each and have chocolate-brown fur. They are blind and deaf and can't walk. The vixen must stay with them to keep them warm and to suckle, wash and groom them, so the dog brings food back for her to eat. In late spring or early summer, a patient and quiet wait concealed upwind from an active earth might be rewarded with a view of cubs as they emerge with their mother.