In the forests, meadows and damp habitats on my land, a total of 33 species of mammal have been recorded so far, including such species as Moose, Wild Boar, Raccoon Dog and Beaver, as well as the rarer Lynx and Wolf (tracks only).
An ongoing task, more investigations are needed on the small mammal communities. To date, the species recorded do not reflect the true status of small mammals, as surely more rodents occur. Bat species are also little investigated.
Species List
Noctule Bat. Occasional in summer, preferring meadows along forest edge
Soprano Pipistrelle. Recorded in spring/summer hawking the open flood forest after dark.
Daubenton's Bat. Along with the above species, occurs in spring/summer over open water in the flood forest.
Common Pipistrelle. Recorded in August 2015, several flying at dusk in the open flood forest areas.
Common Shrew. Present in the meadows, fairly common.
Pygmy Shrew. Abundance not clear, though caught during a small mammal trapping exercise.
Eastern Hedgehog. Present in the meadows, occasionally seen.
Common Mole. Mole hills are common across the meadows. The only sighting however was of an unfortunate individual caught by a White Stork and being tossed skyward before consumed.
Red Squirrel. Prior to 2012, only two records - both in the flooded forest, one briefly visiting the feeding station. In November-December 2012 however, two began to use the feeders on a daily basis, a single also present in November 2013 and January 2014. Thereafter, frequent in the pines to the east of the feeders, occasionally coming to the feeding staion area.
Eurasian Beaver. Common, though rarely seen. Two lodges exist in the flooded forest, one currently a huge lodge towering to almost four metres. Further Beavers exist in the drainage ditch and, not entirely welcome, on the excavated pool. These animals are responsible for a gradual transformation of the flooded forest, not only deepening the waters, but also opening up the canopy through tree removal (both a direct result of trees felled by the Beavers and more so by trees dying due to water inundation). With this habitat transformation, so too is the bird fauna changing - Garganey and Crane have both bred and the abundance of dead wood is much favoured by woodpeckers.
Black Rat. A rare species in Lithuania, a single was found in my cabin (!) in November 2013, sunsequently released in meadows nearby.
Yellow-necked Mouse. Common in the forest and enters my house and cabin in winter. One individual began to use the peanut feeders in January 2013, feeding alongside Blue Tits.
House Mouse. Several individuals found using my house in October 2015.
Bank Vole. Abundant in the woodland. Occasionally seen under the feeders at the forest edge.
Short-tailed Field Vole. Common in the meadows, can be seen under corregated board left for them.
Common Vole. Recorded along overgrown ditches in the meadow areas.
Brown Hare. Common. Mostly seen at night, but also irregularly during the day in the meadows, especially in spring. Tracks encountered with greater frequency.
Wolf. Recorded by tracks in the snow on four occasions:
- one individual in February 2015.
- tracks crossing the frozen forest lake on two occasions in February 2022.
- one across the meadows and into the forest in December 2022.
- pack of six through the forest and along the edge of the meadows in February 2023.
Red Fox. Abundant, seen most weeks. Usually singles, either in the forest or meadows, but up to four animals noted on occasion, particularly in winter.
European Lynx. A rare species in Lithuania, but six occurances on my land:
- an individual on 1 December 2014. Attracting the attention of Jays, the animal was seen briefly at the edge of forest before disappearing into cover.
- kill of a Roe Deer at the forest edge.
- kill of a Beaver in the flood forest in April 2021.
- tracks in the snow of an individual on 25 November 2022.
- an individual following the forest path (tracks only) on two subsequent nights between 27-29 January 2023.
- male caught on camera trap on evening of 27 April 2023, possibly same individual at 4.30 am on 11 September 2023.
Badger. Nocturnal visitor, seems to be fairly common in the meadows at the forest edge. Recorded only via night cams and tracks.
Raccoon Dog. Abundant, though infrequently seen. Night cams show many individuals to be present. Dens exist in the forest and near the ponds. Fallen electricity cables electrocuted three animals in November 2009.
Pine Marten. Mostly nocturnal, but night cams have revealed the animal to be common in the forest, individuals regularly attracted to both fat and apples.
Stone Marten. As Pine Marten, a common nocturnal visitor recorded via night cams. Seems to be most frequent in the regenerating shrub zone, can be attracted by bait.
Polecat. Most records due to automated cameras, individuals recorded this way twice in January 2013, three times in Janury and February 2014, several times in 2023. One sight record - a female with young in July 2020.
Weasil. A single individual (in full ermine) observed hunting in rough grassland aside the ponds on 1 March 2014.
Otter. Five records:
- tracks of an individual crossing the frozen flood forest in January 2014 and then another (or the same) present in February-March 2015, this latter individual caught on automated cameras.
- tracks seen in January 2021.
- a female and three young seen in the forest lake in September 2021, playing on and around the Beaver lodge.
- one single in the forest lake on 6 August 2022.
- one caught on camera trap on 20 April 2023.
American Mink. Running into a ditch in the early morning, one on 12 July 2014.
Wild Boar. Common, though rare to see during the day. Tracks and rooted turf the usual signs of their presence, but night cams show that many groups of up to 25 animals use the area.
Red Deer. Occasional tracks and very rare sight records of single individuals - one in January 2005, one on trip camera in September 2023.
Roe Deer. Common. Seen most days - singles, pairs or small herds grazing or lying up in the meadows. Use salt lick and grain feeder.
Fallow Deer. Two in meadows and forest in July-November 2022, came to salt lick and grain feeder. Occasionally also seen in 2023, from summer through to autumn.
Moose. Frequently pass through, tracks commonplace. Usually singles, but a group of about five present in the winter of 2008-2009, plus three drinking at the excavated pools in March 2020.
