Householders foxed by wildlife survey
An array of animals including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers has set up home in many of Staffordshire's gardens, a wildlife survey has found.
An array of animals including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers has set up home in many of Staffordshire's gardens, a wildlife survey has found.
The RSPB has revealed the results of its first summer wildlife survey which involved 1,667 people from Staffordshire. The wildlife stock-take is the first time the RSPB has asked for information about wildlife other than birds visiting in summer. The findings included the fact that 27 per cent of people reported regularly seeing foxes in their gardens.
A total of 21 per cent reported hedgehogs and five per cent reported badgers at least once a month in their garden.
The most popular animal found in the county's backyards was the grey squirrel which was a regular visitor to 68 per cent of gardens.
The results of the Make Your Nature Count survey also revealed that frogs and toads live in many gardens. More than 42 per cent recorded seeing frogs regularly and 18 per cent reported regular sightings of toads.
Louise Pedersen from the RSPB's West Midlands office said: "We've been surprised at the diversity of wildlife gardens in Staffordshire support. Many people are seeing foxes, hedgehogs and badgers on a regular basis, species perhaps more associated with the wider countryside.
"For 30 years, Big Garden Birdwatch has provided the RSPB with information of winter bird numbers, but this survey will start to build an even bigger picture of garden wildlife throughout the year."
The survey, which took place in June, has also revealed that gardens have on average 10 different species of birds present at that time of year.
The blackbird is the most frequent visitor recorded in 95 per cent of all gardens, followed by the woodpigeon in 90 per cent.
Among birds spotted included baby blackbirds, young robins, song thrushes, swifts, house martins and swallows.
The decline of summer visitors is a concern to the RSPB. Swift numbers have declined by almost a third since 1994 with the cause though to the loss of nest sites.
Louise added: "As more and more people realise the importance of feeding and gardening for wildlife they are delighted by the variety of species visiting."
