大象传媒

There are few counties in England able to boast the diversity of habitats found in Derbyshire.

As a result, from the largest deer to the smallest weasels, stoats and mice, Derbyshire is home to a vast and wide-ranging collection of mammals.

We're already familiar with many of them in our own gardens - hedgehogs, squirrels and foxes, for example. But Derbyshire is home to a great many mammals few of us think of living on our doorstep - deer, otter, mountain hare and 11 of the country's known species of bat.

For Ben Young of the Derbyshire Mammal Group, there are a couple of great spectacles to look out for:

Red Deer at Calke Park

The first is a male Red Deer taking an early morning swim at Carsington Water: "They're fantastic swimmers! It swims to an island, climbs up... walks up, bellows with all it's might and tells all the female deer 'I'm here - come and have a look at me', swims back and disappears into the woodland - so by the time the visitors are here it's hidden."

Ben says very early morning or late evening are the best time to spot this huge creature, which can also be seen at Calke Park and Chatsworth in Derbyshire.

Another great sight in Derbyshire is the Mountain Hare. "Derbyshire is one of the few counties that's actually got Mountain Hare," Says Ben.

"In the winter the coats go white. But this time of year they're losing that whiteness so there's that mix of brown and white. So you can go up on the moors and they stand out. It's a really good opportunity to see one of our rarer mammals. It's quite a niche habitat."

Sadly, some of our local species have been in decline in the recent past - but greater awareness, habitat management and other conservation initiatives have given the mammals a lifeline and many of them are now increasing in numbers and thriving in Derbyshire.

Ben Young听 says Spring is a great time to spot mammals: " They're all active now. They're all feeding up - giving birth or with young - so they're frantically looking for food.

Ben Young in habitat-rich Derbyshire

"Things that you might not usually see - stoats, polecats, weasels - it's probably the best time of year to see them because they're moving around. You've got males looking for females, you've got females searching everywhere - every nook and cranny - for food and you've got the young coming out and playing... foxes, badgers."

To help further understand the variety and numbers of mammals in the county, the Derbyshire Mammal Group is currently carrying out a survey to map what lives where. All reported sightings of mammals are welcome and the results will be published in 2010.

The findings of the survey will give a valuable insight into how mammals are coping in Derbyshire and give clues as to what we humans need to do to ensure their survival.

Us the links on this page to find out more about the group, the survey, how you can help and to hear more from Ben Young on some of Derbyshire's fascinating wildlife.