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COMMON SHREW Sorex araneus

Found throughout the forest in grassland and in scrub. Active day and night, a voracious feeder. Feeds mainly on earthworms, beetles.

The Common shrew skull is pointed and the teeth in the skull and lower jaws are red tipped. Skull length 2 cms.

PIGMY SHREW  Sorex minutus

Found throughout the forest, but commoner in the long grassland areas compared to the Common shrew. Food similar to above but smaller prey items.

MOLE Talpa europaea.

Common throughout the forest especially in grassland areas. Rarely seen, although the many molehills to be seen show they are very active.

HEDGEHOG Erinaceus europaeus.

Found in the forest near housing, using brambles for cover. Mainly nocturnal and feeding on earthworms, beetles, slugs and caterpillars.

When disturbed by dogs, foxes or badgers, the hedgehog will roll into a ball protecting vulnerable parts with its spines.

BANK VOLE Clethrionomys glareolus. Not so common in the forest compared to the Field vole below. Mainly associated with woodland and scrub edges.

BANK VOLE nests in old tree trunks but will readily take to nesting under corrugated iron sheets. Photo shows nest with beech mast and other chewed seeds.

FIELD VOLE Microtus agrestis  Common in the grassland areas  where it forms extensive tunnels (right) Feeds almost exclusively on grass and stems.

Left: Field vole showing its short tail compared to the Bank vole.  Centre: Skull and lower jaw of Field vole showing zigzag teeth pattern, length 2.2cm. Right: Skull of House mouse, length 2.2cms., showing enamelled teeth. The front molar has three roots compared to four in the Woodmouse.

HOUSE MOUSE Mus musculus. Found around the farm and buildings. Eyes smaller than the Woodmouse.

WOOD MOUSE Apodemus sylvaticus. Common in the woodland and scrub areas of the forest where there is good ground cover. Mixed diet of seeds and invertebrates.

YELLOW NECKED MOUSE Apodemus flavicollis. The Yellow necked mouse is slightly larger and heavier than the Woodmouse. It often climbs trees and is more vocal. There is a good breeding colony in Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve and almost certainly in the forest, although live trapping has not been carried out there.  Right: Photographed  in a nest box on the Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve in Dec 2006. It can be distinguished from the Woodmouse by a

yellow-brown band on the underside of the neck.

Left: Woodmouse track in snow, hopping back to its tunnel in grass at top of the picture. Middle: Fox track in snow. The hind feet are placed where the fore feet  were placed. This is known as a register and allows the fox to walk quietly. Right: Track in mud on the heathland of a Muntjac walking.

COMMON RAT Rattus norvegicus. Found around the farm and commonly in the forest especially around the lake and ponds where excessive amounts of bread are left for the wildfowl.

Young Common rat. The thick base of tail distinguish it from a mouse.

GREY SQUIRREL Sciurus carolinensis. Common in all parts of the forest.

Look out for scratch marks of the Grey squirrel on beech and hornbeam trunks Generally three (occasionally 4 or 5) parallel lines..

The grey squirrel will often use a log or tree stump on which to eat . Here are the remains of acorns.

RABBIT Oryctolagus cuniculus. Common throughout the forest, feeding in rides and scrub areas. It will feed in the grassland areas at dusk and dawn.

The swollen eyes and its approachability shows the rabbit suffering from myxomatosis. Photo: 1st July 2006 in the plantation.

Rabbit latrine.

FOX Vulpes vulpes. It is nocturnal but often seen in the forest and Hainault Lodge Nature Reserve during the day..

Old lower jaw bone of Fox found near Sheepwater. The incisor tooth is missing.

Fox droppings or scat are generally black when fresh with a distinctive odour. They are left on grass tufts and may be pointed especially when containing feathers and bones.

BADGER Meles meles.

This skull found in the forest has a large sagittal crest on the top of the head denoting an old animal.

STOAT Mustela erminea and WEASEL Mustela nivalis are both glimpsed in the forest. The stoat feeds on birds and rabbits and is seen in woodland and scrub areas. It has a black tip to the tail.   The Weasel is often seen on the farm where it feeds on small mammals. Drawing: Brian Ecott.

Stoat photographed in the rough grassland area by Vic George.

FALLOW DEER Dama dama. Buck photographed at Weald Park. The Fallow seen in  Lambourne forest and the surrounding fields  are generally darker and lack the spots.

Fallow doe. The male is a buck and the female a doe.

Small Fallow deer herd on 13th February 2007 seen on the Havering land.

MUNTJAC Muntiacus reevesi. Present in the forest but generally unseen. Can be mistaken for a dog running through the undergrowth.