2013 was
the first year that we got fully involved with the actual trapping of newts and
reptiles on the mitigation projects that we work on. Previously we would put up
the fencing to enclose the development site and only come back later to
maintain it. Last year we undertook the trapping programmes on 5 projects and
met and saved a lot of beautiful amphibians and reptiles in the process.
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| Grass snake |
Trapping
is the really rewarding end of the job as you get to meet the animals close up
and really feel that you are doing some good. Plus it beats staggering around
on a muddy field refilling fencing trenches with a shovel.
We
trapped great crested newts on 3 sites in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and
Oxfordshire and saved over 500 animals. On 2 projects in Wiltshire, we were
looking for reptiles, mainly slow worms but also common lizards and grass
snakes and saved almost 100.
It
certainly makes the early mornings and rain down the back of the neck
worthwhile when you pull 6 newts out of the same pitfall trap and move them to
some perfect habitat out of harm’s way.
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