Mammals - Keele University
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Keele University Arboretum

Mammals at Keele

 There has been little or no work done on the mammals at Keele except for the bats.

Please send any sightings to me by E-Mail  or to Geography, Geology and the Environment, William Smith Building.

Grey Squirrel

Grey Squirrel

The Grey squirrel (pictured) can be seen all over campus. The last sightings of our native Red Squirrel were back in the 1950s. Any recent records of them almost certainly refer to Grey Squirrels which often have a reddish tinge to their fur. The population of Greys has always been a subject for debate. They certainly do a great deal of damage to young trees with whole stands being destroyed in some instances. Attempts at controlling the population have always met with opposition.

Badger

There are a number of active setts in the area though live Badgers are rarely seen. Two were seen in fields near Holly Cross in 2006 (Helen Wescott)

Fox

Common around campus, though often not seen. Their characteristic scent though can often be picked up. There is a report of at least one family that lives in the Horwood/Springpool area (Helen Johnson).

Hare

There are old records of Hares in field off Clock House Drive (Kate Lees, 1987) but there are no recent sightings.

Fallow Deer

There is a small population of Fallow Deer on the Mainwaring Estate, two miles to the south. The motorway appears to be a barrier to them reaching the Keele Estate. However, deer prints were seen in the snow on February 28th 2004 (Neil Carter).

Weasel

One record on 16/4/1974 by the old sewage works and another of two on 24/6/74.

Polecat

It can be difficult to separate Polecats from Polecat-Ferret hybrids which have traditionally been kept as pets. However, the numbers of such animals have increased dramatically over the past few years and it is reasonable to suggest that the following are probably genuine Polecats.

  • one in early 2005 Brent Sutton and one along Lymes Road on 23/6/05 Mark Sutton
  • one found dead towards Whitmore Steve Turner in August 2005
  • one in Clock House Drive 29/7/10 Helen Urwin.

Water Vole

One on 11/4/75 by dam on lake 1 and 2 by Lake 4 in October 2010.

Bats

The Staffordshire Bat Group has done a lot of work at Keele. During that work the following species have been recorded:

  • Pipistrelle : Pipistrellus pipistrellus
  • Brown Long-eared : Plecotus auritus
  • Noctule : Nyctalus noctule
  • Daubenton's : Myotis daubentoni
  • Whiskered : Myotis mystacinus
  • Natterer's : Myotis nattereri