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Tennis Balls = Homes for Harvest Mice
Photo courtesy of James Lees
Conservationists hope that the simple tennis ball could be just the thing to give harvest mice an advantage this year.

While only new balls will do for the players about to do battle on Wimbledon’s courts, old ones are making perfect nest houses for the tiny mice at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
 
Staff at the Centre in Gloucestershire hope it will boost the numbers of mice living in its wetland mammal area.

“I have cut small penny sized holes in the balls and put straw inside and they seem to be taking very well to them.  We have about 30 in our collection here and we are hoping that the tennis balls will make them feel secure so that they breed well this year.” John Crooks, mammal manager, explained.

“A few years ago numbers of the mice in the wild did fall but they are starting make a come back as they many populations have moved to new nesting sites such as hedgerows and wetlands.”

Photo courtesy of James Lees
The mice, which only measure about two inches in length when fully grown, are the smallest rodents in the UK.
 
Their breeding season is from May to September and they tend to have litters of four to six young.  In the wild they weave circular nests out of grasses and attach them to stems high above the ground.

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.