🐾 This adorable mammal is a greater white-toothed shrew - an insectivorous species non-native to the British Isles. Originally native to Europe and islands such Guernsey, Alderney and Herm, the greater white-toothed shrew was discovered in Ireland in 2008, and in Sunderland, North-East England, in 2021. To assess what impact the greater white-toothed shrew has on our native species, such as the pygmy shrew, the Mammal Society is currently tracking its spread. We've found populations in Nottingham and Durham, but we don't know if these populations are isolated or connected. That's why we need your help. If you live in North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, or Nottinghamshire and have access to barn owl pellets, we invite you to dissect your owl pellets to see which small mammal skull and jaw bones you can find within them, and send us the results. Alternatively, you can send the pellets straight to us, and we can send them out to our volunteers to dissect. And if you're interested in getting involved in owl pellet dissection but don't have any pellets, then you can still do so! Simply head to the link below. https://mammal.org.uk/current-research/searching-for-shrews 🐁This week is invasive non-native species week, where we are exploring the invasive species of the British Isles. Photo: Saxifraga Rudmer-Zwerve #britishwildlife #wildlife #conservation #ecology #shrews #citizenscience (fb)

🖊️ The Mammal Society has convened more than 20 signatories across the conservation, ecology, education and museum sectors to highlight to government and public the worrying trend of fieldwork opportunities disappearing from life science courses at UK universities. Fieldwork provides opportunities for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience of applying ecology knowledge and skills in a real-world context, ensuring that they can solve real-world challenges and recognise species, signs of wildlife presence and habitat health indicators. Ecology consultancies have already reported to the Mammal Society a growing trend of career starters with life science degrees demonstrating insufficient field skills to be able to start working on projects without a period of shadowing experienced ecologists in the field. Some institutions offer fieldwork opportunities to undergraduates but at an additional cost above course fees, or leave it up to students to find or create their own opportunities. This leads to an inequality of opportunity where students from more affluent backgrounds gain more skills valued by employers. A lack of inbuilt fieldwork can also make life science courses less attractive and have less perceived value for students considering a career path in ecology, at a time when we need more skilled people entering the workforce to address the challenges of the biodiversity crisis. The letter has been sent to government ministers across the devolved parliaments today and calls for the following: · Recognition of field courses as essential training. · Commitment to maintaining and expanding field opportunities. · Financial support to ensure equitable access so that no student is excluded due to cost. · Sustainable alternatives, such as UK-based fieldwork options, rather than eliminating courses in response to carbon footprint concerns. To read the full letter, head to this link: https://mammal.org.uk/press-hub/cross-sector-concerns-about-decline-of-fieldwork-opportunities-in-uk-life-science-courses #environment #ecology #zoology #conservation #wildlife #britishwildlife (fb)