© Wildstock
We receive a wide variety of calls on a daily basis, which often require simple answers or basic information. Please browse through our frequently asked questions, and contact us if your query is not answered below.
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES
BADGERS
BATS
BIRDS
GENERAL
HEDGEHOGS
INJURED/ABANDONED ANIMALS
OTTERS
PESTS
SQUIRRELS
TREES
WATER
Amphibians and reptiles.JPG "© Becky Johnson")
“My pond is full of frog/toad spawn. Is there somewhere I can get rid of some?”
Don’t worry about overcrowding – amphibians are characteristically abundant. Natural processes will regulate numbers with time.
“I would like to get some frog/toad spawn for my pond. Where can I get it from?"
We do not recommend the transferring of these materials of any sort. This is due to disease and infection that can be transferred between ponds. It also should limit the spread of non-native plant species. If a pond and surrounding area is suitable to support frogs/toads, they will find their own way there!
“The frogs in my pond are dying and look diseased…”
This may be a case of red leg disease. Contact Froglife on www.froglife.org or 01733 558960 for more information. Dying frogs should be left alone, though dead ones can be disposed of or buried if the individual wishes to do so. If a number of dead frogs appear floating on the water surface in the spring, they may be males that have over-wintered in the pond instead of hibernating somewhere, and may have died due to extreme temperatures.
“Where do frogs and toads go in winter?”
Frogs and toads hibernate in dark, damp places in winter such as under stones, in long vegetation, in the soil etc. They find a stable temperature in this type of place. Occasionally, some frogs and other, particularly young, amphibians will over-winter in the bottom of the pond.
“I’ve seen a frog which is bright pink / orange / albino…”
These are being seen more frequently, particularly in the south, and seem to be a colour variation related to climate change. For further information contact Froglife.
“I’ve seen a newt in my garden – what type is it?”
If it is 6 inches or larger, black in colour with a dry warty skin and possibly with a large crest it may be a Great Crested Newt. This species is protected by law. If it is smaller than this, even with a crest, with smooth skin, it is likely to be a smooth or palmate newt. The easiest way for someone to identify this is to send in a picture and ideally take a measurement of the newt. A member of our Conservation Team can then identify it.
“Can I get rid of snakes in my garden?”
All snakes are protected from killing and injuring by law. Contact Froglife for further information.
“I’ve got a terrapin – can I get rid of it?”
Local animal shelters or sanctuaries may take it in, or a pet shop may also do so. It is illegal to release the terrapin into the wild and will have effects on the local wildlife.
B
adgers
“I have badgers digging up my garden – how can I stop them?”
Contact the Northumberland Badger Group, via their website www.northumberlandbadgergroup.org.uk, on 07901 951 565 or Badger Trust www.badger.org.uk/content/home.asp
“I’ve seen/found a dead badger…”
Please note details of the location of the animal and contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust on 0191 284 6884 and Northumberland Badger Group, via their website www.northumberlandbadgergroup.org.uk using the email if possible, or on 07901 951 565.
“I have seen/found an injured badger…”
Contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 4999, as Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Northumberland Badger Group cannot collect/handle any injured animals. Do not attempt to handle the badger.
“What can I feed badgers in my garden?”
Feeding any wild animals, including badgers, can lead to more serious problems further down the line. Feeding should always be done in moderation and it is far better to create a habitat with natural food (berry and fruiting plants). Access to drinking water for the badgers is also recommended and chemicals on the garden should not be used. For further information contact Northumberland Badger Group.
“What is NWT’s policy on Badgers and Tuberculosis / TB?”
Contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust for more details on our policy.
“They are developing / building on a site with a badger sett / area regularly used by badgers…”
Badger setts are protected by law but their foraging areas are not. The developers may have applied for a license to disturb the sett and the necessary precautions have most likely been made. If you are still concerned, contact your local planning authority, your Police Wildlife Crime Officer and Northumberland Badger Group.
“I’ve seen some people interfering with a badger sett…”
Do not to interfere in the activity or approach any suspected individual but immediately contact the police on 999 as this is suspected criminal activity please obtain an incident number from the police and let the badger group have it as soon as possible. Also contact Northumberland Badger Group immediately to record details.
“Can I join the Badger Group?”
All interested individuals should contact the group directly enquiries@northumberlandbadgergroup.org.uk or apply via their website www.northumberlandbadgergroup.org.uk either by email or using the mobile number on the website. Contact can also be made via Badger Trust.
Bats
“There are bats in my roof…”
Bats and their roosts are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981; contact Natural England on 0845 600 3078 who will be able to advise you. Many timber treatment products are toxic to all mammals, not just bats, and any timber treatment in the roof should be done using safe products. Any reputable roofing contractor should be aware of the law on this matter.
“How do I move/handle bats?”
It is against the law to handle bats without a license, unless the animal is clearly injured. If the bat is injured, it should be left where it is and Natural England should be contacted. It is also against the law to disturb, destroy or block access to a bat roost, even when not currently in use, no matter where it is located.
Birds
“There’s a baby bird that has been abandoned by its parents…”
Do not touch or take the bird and leave the nest area alone, but if you have already done so, return the bird and leave it alone. Its parents are likely to be nearby and will return to feed it. If possible, and only if the bird has already been handled, put it out of reach of cats, dogs or other threats. It is difficult to successfully raise baby birds and is much better to leave things to nature. If you are still concerned, contact the RSPCA.
“My neighbour is shooting birds in his garden…”
Some birds are classed as pest species and can be legally killed though a license to do so is required; contact DEFRA on 0191 229 5400 or RSPB on 0191 256 8200 for more advice.
“How do I build a bird box?”
Why not have a look out our Wildlife Gardening section for more information, including a downloadable 'Guide to Wildlife Gardening'. Ready-made boxes can also be bought from the Trust.
“Hedges are being cut and trees are being felled and I’m concerned about nests…”
All wild birds, their nests (during use and under construction) and eggs are protected from damage and disturbance, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Contact the police on 101. The activity should be delayed until September-March period or until all of the chicks have fledged and the nest is no longer in use.
“Is it ok to feed birds in the summer?”
Yes as long as the food is fresh and would not be a choking risk to chicks, such as large chunks of dry bread or whole peanuts. There are many specialist suppliers of bird food for summer feeding.
“I’ve seen a ringed bird…”
Contact either British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) on www.bto.org.uk or 01842 750 050, or for wildfowl reports/sightings contact Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust on www.wwt.org.uk or 01453 891900.
.jpg "© NWT")
General
“Do I have to be a member to access the reserves?”
All of our nature reserves are public access, so it is not necessary to be a member to visit. However, members can purchase hide keys for exclusive access to locked hides at Big Waters and Holywell Pond - contact the Trust for more details.
“Which sites have disabled access?”
NWT does its best to make its reserves as accessible as possible but, by their very nature, many of them have uneven surfaces, steep slopes, gates and stiles. Certain reserves have been specifically improved to provide at least partial disabled access and these include Hauxley, West Fleetham, Linton Lane, Big Waters, Bakethin, St Nicholas Park and Weetslade.
“How do I get to the reserves?”
Our reserves are searchable via the Nature Reserves section of our website, and via Google Maps, but grid references and basic directions are also included in the Reserves Guide sent to members of NWT.
“I need information on planning proposals…”
NWT receives copies of planning applications on areas of relevance to particular species or wildlife in general, and can provide comment. It is likely that the necessary work has been carried out and the application has been seen, although we can look into it and double check. We require the following information:
- Reference number of planning application (this can be found online / via the relevant local authority)
- Date of application submission
- Location of planning proposal
- Any relevant information regarding wildlife
- Your name and contact telephone number
“How do I report a sighting?”
Key species of interest at NWT are listed below, and should be reported directly to the Trust:
- Red and grey squirrel
- Great crested newt
- Otters
- Water vole
- Pine marten
- Polecat
- Mink
- Harvest mouse
- Dormouse
- Whales and dolphins
- Interesting species on NWT reserves
- Bittern
- Invasive plant
- Large heath butterfly
- Banded demoiselle damselfly
- Bat roost
When reporting sightings, we need a contact name, telephone number, the species sighted, location and habitat, a grid reference or postcode, the date sighted and whether the animal is dead or alive.
For non-key species, we ask that you report sightings to ERIC (for contact details, see below).
EYE Project and ERIC
EYE Project (Enjoy Your Environment) is a website run by Tyne & Wear Museums which enables and encourages the public to record sightings and find out about wildlife in the North East of England. ERIC (Environmental Records Information Centre) holds records of ecological data from many different organisations and facilitates sharing of data between groups. Contact Katherine Pinnock on
0191 222 5158 or katherine.pinnock@twmuseums.org.uk for more information.
The more information these projects have, the more information organisations like ourselves have access to and can share information with. This helps NWT in its overview of wildlife in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.
“Can I send in a photograph for species identification?”
We are able to identify photographs, but as team members are often out of the office, go to www.ispot.org.uk. This is part of the OPAL project (Open Air Laboratories network – an extension of the Natural History Museum) and encourages individuals and communities to upload and identify species photos. Once the species has been identified, you can then feed back your sighting to ERIC (see above).
.jpg "© Kevin Murray")
Hedgehogs
“I have a hedgehog in my garden – what should I feed it?”
Feeding should always be done in moderation and it is far better to create a habitat with natural food (berry and fruiting plants). Access to drinking water for the hedgehogs is also recommended and chemicals on the garden should not be used.
However, many people love to help hedgehogs by feeding them so if you still wish to do so, specialist food can be bought. Alternatively, tinned dog/cat food (not pork or fish) or meat scraps will do. Do not feed bread and/or milk! If you are worried about cats taking the food, cover it up with a saucer of a similar size – this will often deter the cat but not a hungry hedgehog!
“There is a hedgehog outside during the day/in the cold weather/winter…”
It is very rare for a hedgehog to be out in the daylight, so more than likely there is something wrong. Concerned individuals can contact Hedgehog Rescue on 0191 266 3553 (Newcastle) or 01665 570650 (Northumberland).
In a dry summer a hedgehog may occasionally be out in the day if it has not been able to obtain enough food at night. In winter they should not be out at all but may occasionally wake from hibernation if there’s a warm spell. In either case it should not be out on a regular basis. If you are worried, weigh the hedgehog. If it weighs over 450g it is probably OK and can be fed (see above) and left alone. If it is under 450g or showing signs of distress, it is probably suffering from a serious fluid deficiency and needs help. Place in a cardboard box on torn (not shredded) newspaper and bring into the warm. Try to feed (see above). If you can get hold of some goats’ milk (available in frozen form from health food shops), this is excellent for hedgehogs and should be warmed and given to the hedgehog in a saucer.
“How can I attract hedgehogs into my garden?”
Contact British Hedgehog Preservation Society on www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk or 01584 890801. The best way to attract hedgehogs to your garden is by providing areas for them to shelter and forage in such as log and leaf piles, areas of long grass and an accessible water supply. Hedgehogs mainly eat slugs, snails and worms so do not use slug pellets as this will most likely poison the hedgehog.
Injured/abandoned animals
“I have seen a stranded (dead) marine animal…”
Contact the Natural History Museum on 020 7942 5000 with the following info:
- Species info (what is it?)
- Description of location (where is it?)
- Description of animal size and level of decomposition.
“There is a seal (alive) on the beach…”
If the seal is not in distress, this is a normal occurrence and it is most likely just resting. If the seal is injured, very thin, or distressed, the RSPCA should be contacted and the Blue Reef Aquarium informed on 0191 258 1031. The seal should be left alone until the RSPCA are able to see to it.
“There is an abandoned baby seal on the beach…”
Again, leave the animal alone and contact the RSPCA and the Blue Reef Aquarium.
“I have seen a seal with a tag/I have found a tag on the beach…”
The Sea Mammals Research Unit is conducting a survey into life expectancy of seal pups and to track their movements. These tags are for identification and the numbers or letter codes on them should be recorded if possible and passed on. Contact Dr Ailsa Hall at SMRU (flipper tags) on 01334 462634, or Dr Bernie McConnell (telemetry tags) on 01334 463280.
Otters
“I’ve seen an otter…”
Contact both Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the EYE project to report your sighting. For further details, see below.
EYE Project (Enjoy Your Environment) is a website run by Tyne & Wear Museums which enables and encourages the public to record sightings and find out about wildlife in the North East of England. ERIC (Environmental Records Information Centre) holds records of ecological data from many different organisations and facilitates sharing of data between groups. Contact Katherine Pinnock on
0191 222 5158 or katherine.pinnock@twmuseums.org.uk for more information.
The more information these projects have, the more information organisations like ourselves have access to and can share information with. This helps NWT in its overview of wildlife in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.
“Where can I see otters?”
Otters are present on every river catchment in Northumberland, but the chances of seeing them are small. Otters are mainly active around dawn and dusk. It can sometimes require long hours of waiting to catch a fleeting glimpse – it is often down to patience and good luck! NWT’s Big Waters and Druridge Bay reserves are good places to start!
“Otters are eating my fish!”
Otters are predators with a preference for fish. In natural circumstances otters eat fish of up to 14cm long of whichever is the most abundant species. In most cases, otters live in harmony with their prey, not taking too many or too few for its needs.
Artificially stocked fisheries, fish farms or ornamental ponds are slightly different as otters find the constricted size, easy access and abundant stock difficult to resist! In some cases they will also teach their young to fish there too. This can, of course, have detrimental effects on the artificial stock – the only reliable way to stop this is to fence the area off.
“I’ve found orphaned/abandoned otter cubs…”
As with all wild creatures, the best thing is to leave them alone. This can sometimes be difficult especially if the cubs seem to be crying out. Female otters are good mothers and will rarely be far away, although they will leave their cubs for up to 24 hours unless they are very young. If there is still concern for the welfare of the cubs, return to the location in 24 hours (but do not feed or attempt to touch the cubs). If you are absolutely certain the cubs have been abandoned, contact Kevin O’Hara at Northumberland Wildlife Trust or the RSPCA. If you are happy to provide help (once it has been established that the cubs have definitely been abandoned) warmth and fluid are essential to the otter’s survival. The otter should be wrapped in a blanket for warmth and given water if possible, but no food.
“I’ve found a dead otter…”
Contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust to provide details, including:
- Where (grid reference if possible)
- Road details if relevant (many otters are found on the road after being ran over)
- Contact details
- Are you prepared to pick up the otter so that further data can be determined?
The Environment Agency should be also contacted on 08708 506506 who may offer to collect it.
Pests
“There’s a wasps’ nest/rats/mice in my house/garden…"
If they are causing a problem, call the Environmental Health Department of your local authority/council. There may be a charge for the service and assistance is not guaranteed. Northumberland Wildlife Trust is not able to assist or make visits for this type of enquiry.
“I have moles digging up my garden…”
There isn’t much of a solution here as moles’ natural behaviour is to dig and tunnel. The best and most humane advice is to plant a few ‘Caper Spurge’ plants which are supposed to deter moles, or try sonic mole chasers. Small plastic windmills placed in runs can also deter them.
“Where can I get a humane mouse trap?”
Most hardware shops supply these, including Thorpe’s in Gosforth and B&Q.
Squirrels
“I’ve seen a red squirrel…”
Either contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust, or visit www.rsne.org.uk to report your sighting.
“I’ve seen a grey squirrel…”
Contact Northumberland Wildlife Trust to report the sighting, so a fast response can be made. Ideally, grey sightings should not be made via the website to ensure the information reaches the team as soon as possible.
“I’ve seen/found a dead red squirrel…”
It is very important that all dead red squirrels are sent for post-mortem if possible, even if the cause of death looks obvious, like a road kill. The results of post-mortems are used for studies into the general health of the population. If you are willing to do this, the squirrel can be sent straight away (it can be refrigerated or frozen for a couple of days if necessary). It should be packed in absorbent material and a few plastic bags, and then placed into a rigid box or tube. Include your own contact details, and where the squirrel was found, along with any other relevant information. It is best to ensure the package will arrive on a weekday so someone can tend to it immediately. If it is suspected that the squirrel has squirrelpox virus it is imperative that it is sent for testing. It should be labelled and addressed as follows, and sent 1st class:
Pathological Specimen – Fragile – Handle With Care
Paul Duff
Veterinary Investigation Centre
Merrythought
Calthwaite
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 9RR
“I’ve seen/found a sick or injured red squirrel…”
It is often better to leave a young red squirrel, as its parents are often nearby. However, if it appears to be ill, handle as little as possible as they do suffer badly with shock. As a first attempt, leave some water, peanuts and apple beside the red squirrel. If you are still worried please follow these instructions:
- Wear gloves, for health and safety reasons and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards
- Place the squirrel in a cardboard box, in a quiet area away from draughts and out of reach of children and pets. Ensure adequate air can circulate inside the box. Provide a source of warmth for the squirrel, such as a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket (but not too hot!)
- Provide soft bedding, such as a blanket with no holes or frayed areas, but not towels as the squirrels nails can become caught in the loops of towels.
- Provide some apple to prevent dehydration.
- Telephone the animal sanctuary/veterinary centre in advance to check that they are able to take the red squirrel.
“Where can I see red squirrels?”
Red squirrels are present throughout Northumberland with the biggest population right here in the North East! A sighting of a red squirrel is never guaranteed but your chances are increased early in the morning, as they are most active within the first few hours after dawn. Kielder forest has the biggest population of red squirrels in England so there is a good chance you will see one there, try Leaplish wildlife hide or Kielder Castle. Also try areas surrounding Kielder, such as Bellingham and Hareshaw Linn.
Other suggested locations are:
- Plessey Woods
- Gosforth Park
- Bolam Lake
- Ford & Etal www.ford-and-etal.co.uk
- Thrunton Woods
- Hulne Park, Alnwick *
- National Trust properties such as Cragside & Wallington Hall *
*It is recommended that visitors contact these places prior to visiting to check opening times and admission fees.
“Can I have a grey squirrel trap?”
Contact Red Squirrels Northern England at Northumberland Wildlife Trust for more details on 0191 284 6884.
Trees
“I’d like to donate trees to Northumberland Wildlife Trust…”
We often get offers of tree saplings from people who’d like us to plant them on our reserves. Whilst this is a very generous offer, unfortunately we are unable to accept tree donations. We need to be very certain about species and very selective when we choose trees to plant to ensure we maintain native woodland and tree planting.
“Trees are being chopped down…”
Contact the planning department of your local authority to see whether the area is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) - if so they will deal with it. If not, NWT has no power to prevent anyone felling trees if it is on their land. If they are felling a number of trees they may require a felling licence from the Forestry Commission. If you can prove that there is a nesting bird in the tree, RSPB or the Police may be able to help. If a bat roost or a squirrel drey is likely to be disturbed Natural England should be informed.
“Hedges are being removed…”
NWT has no powers to prevent hedgerow removal. However, planning permission is required for all hedgerow removals. Contact your local authority to see whether a hedgerow removal notice has been applied for.
“How can I apply for a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?”
Contact your local authority, as Tree Preservation Orders are put on trees of high landscape value, rather than for nature conservation value. However, a woodland may have a blanket TPO applied.
Water
“My pond has frozen over – what can I do to prevent this?”
Floating a ball or plastic bottle half-filled with salty water should prevent the entire surface from freezing. In the short term, wildlife will not come to any harm provided the pond is deep enough and there is still water underneath the ice. If you are still concerned, a small area on the surface can be carefully melted with hot water to provide oxygen. The ball or bottle trick can then be applied!
Do not break the ice – the water can often be a higher temperature than the air and rapid changes in temperature can be particularly harmful to fish and amphibians.
“There is water pollution/flooding in my area…”
This should be reported to the Environment Agency on 08708 506506, but if the flooding is from a street drain, this is Northumbrian Water’s responsibility, and they can be contacted on 0845 717 1100.
“I want to report sewage issues/illegal discharges/storm drain overflows”
Report these to the Environment Agency if the sewage is flowing into a river/stream constantly. If it is not constant, storm outflows are designed to flow at times of high rainfall so this may not be an issue. However, contact Northumbrian Water if the sewage is flowing from a pipe in the street.
“What can I do about blanket weed (invasive pond plant species)?”
We can no longer recommend barley straw bales for use in ponds, due to changes in legislation. If this occurs on a garden pond, it is often down to excessive shade or, more commonly, run-off from garden fertilisers used on the lawn and the use of tap water, which contains a lot of chemicals used to purify it. Elbow grease and a garden cane are best to remove it! However, the weed should be left nearby to allow pond life to escape before putting it on the compost heap.