wildlife conservation

My neighbour always props open his shed door before the first bangs of 5 November, and it has never been about the tools

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My neighbour always props open his shed door before the first bangs of 5 November, and it has never been about the tools

Every November, some gardeners deliberately leave their shed doors ajar—not out of forgetfulness, but as a lifesaving measure for hedgehogs seeking winter shelter. As Britain’s hedgehog population crashes, one small habit in your garden could make all the difference during bonfire season.

I trapped what I thought was a stray tabby at the edge of the Jura forest: when I finally looked at its tail, it was already too late

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I trapped what I thought was a stray tabby at the edge of the Jura forest: when I finally looked at its tail, it was alrea...

A chance encounter with what appears to be an ordinary tabby cat near the Jura forest could spiral into a conservation nightmare. The subtle features that distinguish Europe’s most elusive wildcat from a common domestic cat—especially that distinctive thick, ringed tail—are far easier to miss than wildlife experts would like, and the legal consequences of getting it wrong are severe.