A Night with Wild Beavers: Captivating Encounters in the West Country

Wildlife Matters The Podcast

This week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast centres around the poignant issue of badger culling as we explore the alarming 2024 cull figures released by the Badger Trust and Wild Justice, which reveal a tragic loss of 10,769 badgers due to mismanagement by Natural England and DEFRA. This disconcerting development highlights the urgent need for accountability and the protection of our wildlife. In a contrasting yet equally captivating segment, we recount a mesmerising encounter with wild beavers in the West Country. This experience evoked both awe and wonder as we observed these remarkable creatures in their natural habitat. Additionally, we delve into the successful petition to end the confinement of caged animals in the UK, alongside the upcoming Churches Count on Nature initiative, which encourages community involvement in citizen science. Join us as we explore these pressing topics and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the wildlife that surrounds us.

Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast

Here we are at the end of May, with summer fast approaching. After many weeks of warm sunshine in the UK, there has been a brief respite for most wildlife and plants, with some rain in most areas.

This is vital, as many species, such as badgers with cubs, have struggled to dig into the sun-baked soil to find earthworms, and birds with youngsters in the nest have struggled to find insects and caterpillars, which have been emerging in much lower numbers this year.

This week’s Wildlife Matters main feature is an incredible night we spent with wild beavers in the West Country.

It was the first time I had seen a wild beaver in its natural habitat, and I was frozen to the spot as the Beaver went about its business of an early evening swim. This is a captivating story which we are sure you won’t want to miss.

And we will spend precious time in tune with nature in this week’s Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments.

But before that, in this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature News, we are talking about the badger culls as Badger Trust and Wild Justice release the 2024 cull figures in the first of a series of exposés of the failings of Natural England and DEFRA.

We hear about a successful petition to end caged animals in the UK and the return of the Church graveyard Citizen Science week, Churches Count on Nature, and that is coming up next on this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature news.

Takeaways:

• The recent rainfall across the UK has provided crucial relief to wildlife and plants, particularly benefiting species such as badgers and birds.
• In the Wildlife Matters main feature, we recount a mesmerising encounter with wild beavers in their natural habitat, highlighting their unique behaviours and significance.
• The Badger Trust and Wild Justice have unveiled alarming figures regarding the 2024 badger culls, raising concerns about the treatment of this protected species.
• A successful petition has garnered over 103,000 signatures advocating for the end of caged animals in the UK, prompting a parliamentary debate on the matter.
• The Churches Count on Nature initiative will engage communities in citizen science, focusing on biodiversity in churchyards, with particular attention on swifts this year.
• Our Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments segment encourages listeners to appreciate nature through soundscapes, fostering a deeper connection with the wildlife around us.

Links referenced in this episode:

• wildlifematters
• badgertrust
• swiftconservation
• devonwildlifetrust
• bbciplayer

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Badger Trust
• Wild Justice
• Natural England
• Defra
• Compassion in World Farming
• Devon Wildlife Trust
• SaveMe Trust