Radnorshire Mammal Group has produced a long-awaited atlas of county mammals with maps and descriptions of all the species found in Radnorshire.
It is the first step to encourage recording of furry creatures, and to show how people can easily become a recorder.
Mammals are vastly under-recorded, mostly due to their solitary and elusive natures. Bird and butterflies are far easier to see and identify.
Sorcha Lewis, mammal group county recorder said: “These days, digital cameras can are a real aid to identifying animals – if you are unsure send it to us.
“We get many people sending pictures of what the cat brought them as a furry and sometimes damp present.
“At least out of the tragedy we get a small mammal record and in some cases more interesting things.
“Fishermen and birdwatchers provide many of our records – without these sightings we cannot discover more about or aid the conservation of our mammals.
“Our atlas has been supported by the Powys Environmental Partnership, Elan Valley Trust, BIS, Oakdale Trust and Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, for their help and support we are truly grateful.”
Anyone finding a mammal should log their name, the date, location and their e-mail or phone number to verify any unusual records.
Owl pellets can also be sent to the group, with a date, location and details.
They can be used to find out what the owls are eating and thus in return discover some additional small mammal records.
For more information contact the mammal group, we will be running an owl pellet workshop later in the year.
The Mammal Atlas will be for sale at the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust talk taking place at CARAD in Rhayader on March 10, at 7.30pm where Rebecca Brooks, ecologist and bat expert, will be talking about bats.
On April 10, Sorcha Lewis will be running two morning sessions all about mammal surveying.
People will have the opportunity to see how surveying is done, get a chance to check small mammal traps and search for mammal signs.
To book a place, email radnorshiremammalgroup@ live.com or call 01597 811533.
The education room at the visitor centre will open all day and there will be a talk at 1.30pm about Radnorshire’s mammals, plus an opportunity to get hold of a copy of an atlas.