Life Nature Magazine
themed ‘Dusk until Dawn’. These times are to me, some of the most exciting to experience wildlife. When I can make it out of bed in time for dawn, the chorus of birds chattering and singing above me makes the wrestle with my tiredness all worth it. As sun sets, some of the most secretive animals come out of their day time hiding places. Foxes and badgers can be seen by the lucky, and bats’ sonar can be heard with a handy bat detector. The time between dusk and dawn is fascinating too. Whilst most of us are tucked up in bed asleep, many animals are exploiting this quieter period, with multitudes of adaptations allowing them to use the darkness to their advantage. From this issue, many of the original team, including myself, are ‘phasing out’. We’re looking for new team members – see the careers section for more information on how to get involved. Whilst some of us will still be involved in the next issue, we’ll be taking less on, so we’d like to thank
themed ‘Dusk until Dawn’.
These times are to me, some of
the most exciting to experience
wildlife. When I can make it
out of bed in time for dawn,
the chorus of birds chattering
and singing above me makes
the wrestle with my tiredness
all worth it. As sun sets, some of
the most secretive animals come
out of their day time hiding
places. Foxes and badgers can
be seen by the lucky, and bats’
sonar can be heard with a handy
bat detector. The time between
dusk and dawn is fascinating
too. Whilst most of us are
tucked up in bed asleep, many
animals are exploiting this
quieter period, with multitudes
of adaptations allowing them
to use the darkness to their
advantage. From this issue,
many of the original team,
including myself, are ‘phasing
out’. We’re looking for new
team members – see the careers
section for more information
on how to get involved. Whilst
some of us will still be involved
in the next issue, we’ll be taking
less on, so we’d like to thank
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FEATURE FROM DUSK UNTIL DAWN AUTUMN ISSUE<br />
be made up of anthropogenic food. The<br />
availability of these food sources all year<br />
round makes it worth the risk of city living.<br />
Are we asking for it?<br />
<br />
since 2010, where two 9-month old girls<br />
received arm and facial wounds. In fact,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
would go for the neck, not the hand, arm<br />
<br />
comparison to the number of dog attacks,<br />
animals most of us would consider a part<br />
of the family. It is understandable that the<br />
victims’ families are upset, but can we really<br />
<br />
<br />
only 13 - 14% living in urban areas.<br />
After the latest attack, the victim’s parents<br />
<br />
by several politicians. However, wildlife<br />
<br />
<br />
considered that humans are not the only<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Human conduct could be partly to<br />
blame for such attacks. Many households<br />
purposefully leave out food for their garden<br />
visitors, or try to entice them to eat from<br />
the hand. The availability of food so close<br />
to human dwelling is a tasty prospect for<br />
those brave enough to risk close encounters,<br />
but there is a wealth of food available to<br />
them in the urban environment, without<br />
residents providing additional sources. If the<br />
animals become habituated to our presence,<br />
they will no longer feel the need to keep<br />
<br />
could reduce the risk of confrontation.<br />
<br />
<br />
metropolises approach upon their<br />
territories without stopping to consider the<br />
consequences. Our cities don’t stop growing<br />
and when faced with the prospect of die or<br />
adapt, we must surely realise that animals<br />
that can adapt, will.<br />
Written by Jennifer Weller,<br />
second year zoology student<br />
at the University of Exeter,<br />
Cornwall Campus.<br />
21
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