Mammals of the Scilly Isles

26/12/2007 00:00:00 The Isles of Scilly are not well known for their mammals. The islands are home to just 6 of the 24 terrestrial mammals found in Cornwall, wood mice, house mice, the famous ‘Scilly shrew’ (lesser white-toothed shrew – not found on the mainland), hedgehogs, brown rats and rabbits. Pipistrelle bats are the only recorded bat species on the Islands. Sea life is a different story, there is a huge variety of marine mammals including killer, minke and fin whales, porpoises, dolphins and Leatherback turtles that are found around the coast of the Islands. The problem is that not much is known about their population size and distribution on the islands, or their seasonal behaviour.

The Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) need help gathering records of any mammals yoou see on the Scilly.

If you need some help recognising what you have seen, the Mammals project can provide a free mammal identification guide. Send information on your sightings, or order a free identification guide from, the Mammals Project Co-ordinator, ERCCIS, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, TR4 9DJ. For more information, contact the Mammals Project Co-ordinator at ERCCIS via Cornwall Wildlife Trust on 01872 273939.