[Birdnuts]

Originally Posted by LordSutch

I presume there is nothing to stop somebody capturing some Moles (for example) in Britain and releasing them here in the same way as the American grey squirrel was released both here and in Britain.

Or maybe introducing a species like the Mole would be more complicated than that?

It would be illegal as they are non-native and so would be classed as an invasive species under the law.

[fryup]

^^^^

yes its illegal, but still some lout could introduce them

[Cork boy 55]

Wild parrots



The number of wild parrots living in England is rising at 30% per year, says an Oxford University research project. Parks and gardens in the leafy London suburbs have been adopted as a preferred habitat by birds that are native to southern Asia.
In the Surrey stockbroker belt, a single sports ground is believed to be home to about 3,000 parrots.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3869815.stm

[thecommietommy]

Originally Posted by cuddlycavies

Irish stoat and hare are disticntly different from British. Giant Irish deer was also but obviously gone. The reasons are simple. Our landbridge with scotland was flooded out of existence before Englands connection with France was. Animals came across as the climate warmed and colonised England. We missed out on all voles, most shrews, mice. Thier predators such as Tawny owls also absent here because no voles. We have better variety of water fowl and some seabirds but really our wildlife is a cross between Britain and Tundra. fairly sparce. We have more Pine Martens and otters thugh. I was surprised to learn recently that the vikings brought the pine marten!

Someone disputes this further on the thread, but in passing, the Normans introduced the rabbit to Ireland (as a source of food BTW). Hares existed here before they came though.

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learni...ds/rabbithare/

[thecommietommy]

Originally Posted by Kess73

They are a fantastic little snake. Very very shy, and so easy to miss due to their small size. Very easy snake to watch though, once you spot one, as they are very predictable in their movements.

Used to see loads of them in the Yorkshire Dales and the North York moors.


Wigg Island not too far from Liverpool is another good spot to see them.

I hope you don't take offence, but adders can be potentially dangerous and even life threatening !!!

Dad five minutes from death after being bitten by black adder snake while on family walk in Kent
http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learni...ds/rabbithare/

Each year, approximately 100 cases of adder bites are reported in the UK
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Bites-s...roduction.aspx

[Ding Dong]

for fish they have Barbel and Chub which we dont (shouldnt) have here

[OpenYourEyes]

Originally Posted by Ding Dong

for fish they have Barbel and Chub which we dont (shouldnt) have here

Zander, Dace and Carp too! (we shouldn;t have, I know some places have been stocked with carp and possibly the others too!)

[tricky D]

Originally Posted by Birdnuts

At the rate the GSW's are expanding in Wicklow, I would be confident that within 10 years you will be seeing this species in your neck of the woods Homer. Probably breeding too

Add Howth/Sutton to that list. A pair nested in the relations back garden in Sutton a few years ago until the wooded area was built on. The year or two after, they (possibly the same pair) were in the Deerpark.

[Gunnerkid]

Yellow-Tailed scorpions can be found in the south-west of the UK

Other unusual animals were officially recorded around the UK such as Brazilian Aardvarks. Story on it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10365422

[Amprodude]

if a snake was released into the wild here would they survive and adapt? personally I hate the species more than any other animal.

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by Amprodude

if a snake was released into the wild here would they survive and adapt? personally I hate the species more than any other animal.

They would have to include a pregnant female or you would have to release a pair and most species that are kept as pets would not survive the cold climate. The snakes you do get in the UK might survive but even in the UK, they are probably on the edge of their range in terms of ideal conditions.

You do get slow worms and it looks like these were released but they are really (legless) lizards. http://www.biology.ie/group.php?m=lizard&g=79

Des

[Alun]

An introduced species, not a native one, but I was watching Animal 24:7 on the Beeb this morning and there was a piece on edible dormice that apparently were released somewhere in Southern England at the turn of the 20th century.

They're big buggers, almost like squirrels, and with a nasty temperament and a bite to match. These particular ones had set up a nest inside an automatic ticket machine at the station, using the supply of tickets as nest building material, and so had to be removed (very carefully and with thick leather gloves!)

[Amprodude]

Originally Posted by Desmo

They would have to include a pregnant female or you would have to release a pair and most species that are kept as pets would not survive the cold climate. The snakes you do get in the UK might survive but even in the UK, they are probably on the edge of their range in terms of ideal conditions.

You do get slow worms and it looks like these were released but they are really (legless) lizards. http://www.biology.ie/group.php?m=lizard&g=79

Des

I would have thought Great Britain would have a similiar climate to Ireland and would be colder than Ireland at winter time. Great Britain is an Island too and there are snakes there unlike Ireland and New Zealand.

[Desmo]

Originally Posted by Amprodude

I would have thought Great Britain would have a similiar climate to Ireland and would be colder than Ireland at winter time. Great Britain is an Island too and there are snakes there unlike Ireland and New Zealand.

GB is very close to the continent and snakes found it easier to get there than to Ireland (or NZ). We have only 1 native reptile (lizard) apart from turtle visitors. The Winter climate in GB is colder in Scotland certainly and to an extent further south ok. Sometimes what counts more is how hot it gets in Summer and for how long. The South of England is warmer and drier than here and is reliably so, in Summer. What I was referring to were pet/exotic snakes which would have difficulty surviving here. The native GB snakes (adders, grass snakes, smooth snakes) might survive here; dunno; they are possibly on the edge of their ideal range as it is, in GB.

[Alun]

Originally Posted by Amprodude

I would have thought Great Britain would have a similiar climate to Ireland and would be colder than Ireland at winter time. Great Britain is an Island too and there are snakes there unlike Ireland and New Zealand.

True, but the kinds of snake that might escape from a reptile keepers vivarium would be (sub-)tropical species and used to a much warmer climate. However, if you released grass snakes and adders here I'm sure they'd thrive.