Which mammals can be found in woodland?
Most UK mammals, such as badgers, stoats, shrews, squirrels, mice, weasels, hedgehogs, foxes, and voles, frequent woods for at least part of their time.
Some like the wood mouse are found in other habitats too, but the yellow-necked mouse is more restricted to woodland, and one mammal species makes its home only in woods, especially one with good canopy cover and a good supply of honeysuckle and hazel, and that is the dormouse.
But, you're unlikely to see one of these elusive creatures, as in common with most other mammals they are extremely secretive and elusive.
A variety of deer species are often found in woodland, including fallow, red, sitka, roe and muntjak deer, although only the red deer is native and the non-native species are often regarded as pests by woodland conservationists.
The grey squirrel is the other obvious non-native species found in woods. Introduced many hundreds of years ago, despite the fact that it has driven most of our native reds north to the sanctuary of Scotland’s pine woods, they are still a favourite with many people.
Nearly all bat species found in the UK, spend some of their time in woodland, with ancient trees being a particular favourite.