8 of us gathered at Gunnersbury Triangle on 3 March for the next phase of our Vole Patrol experience. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we were serenaded as we worked by robins, wrens & a song thrush.
This time, we were placing 32 small traps on the reserve to see what went in there for a sleep and/or a snack: 22 in woodland (18 on the ground, 4 up trees), 5 in grassy areas and 5 near water. The traps are a new design, very neat, described by Huma our leader as “volunteer proof” – let’s hope she’s not tempting fate.
Each was carefully filled with some hay for bedding and a range of delicious (to small mammals) food – snacks made up of peanut butter (a mixture of smooth and crunchy, both organic naturally), chicken food (also organic) & seed, a slice of (organic) apple and some casters (maggots) – these last especially for local shrews, which are insectivorous. We’re catering to all appetites & tastes!
We left the traps overnight, locked open so that any visitor could leave at his or her leisure. On our return the next morning, we found that about half had been visited – with the peanut butter/chicken food/seed combo being the most popular.
This will continue for 3 more nights, then on Sunday, we will set the traps up so that any visitor is kept in to be found later (we check twice a day, at dawn & dusk). Then there will be the excitement of identification, weighing and measuring. We can’t wait!
(Photos by Ian Alexander)