Keep an eye out says Judith Hartley of the Oxfordshire Mammal Group

There’s nothing like being in the right place at the right time. On a recent drive along a familiar stretch of road, a rabbit jumped out of the long grass and sprinted towards me. A split second later another shape emerged and took off in close pursuit; it was a stoat — small, lithe and incredibly fast, tracking the rabbit like a cheetah on the Serengeti.

Locked in this life-or-death chase, it was a few moments before they noticed my car approaching. Then, just as suddenly, they disappeared back into the grass and I went on my way, feeling a little guilty I had interrupted the stoat’s hunt but elated that, for once, my timing had been spot-on.

I expect most of us have had similarly fleeting experiences of our secretive mammals. They show up unexpectedly then, before we’ve had time to say anything more than ‘Oh look, it’s a…’ they’ve disappeared under the nearest bush.

For a mammal enthusiast it is immensely frustrating not to be able to see an animal after investing so much time looking for it. I have had a lifelong ambition to see an otter in the wild, and while I can recognise their footprints, their feeding signs and even their poo, I still haven’t managed to get that right time, right place moment.

A friend of mine recently told me he saw 11 otters last year. Eleven! He then went on to admit that as a fisherman he regularly spends 10 hours a day standing in rivers.

While it’s very difficult to guarantee seeing the mammal of your dreams or any wild mammal at all, this is no reason not to give it your best shot. Whether enjoying the birds at one of the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, walking the dog or just driving to work, stay on the alert and you never know what you might see.

Be curious. What animal has dug that hole, made that track or left that pile of poo? Starting to recognise mammal signs will tell you which species to look out for and help you choose a good stakeout point, if you’re in it for the long haul. Promising stakeout spots include BBOWT’s tranquil woodland at Foxholes, near Burford and its vast and stunning Chimney Meadows, near Standlake.

Children can get involved too, for example by following the Nature Detectives Trail at Warburg Nature Reserve near Nettlebed. This self-guided trail through the woods encourages youngsters to hunt for signs of wildlife, including mammals, using supplied spotter sheets and trail notes.

Joining the newly-formed Oxfordshire Mammal Group is one way to pick up some tracking tips and learn how to monitor mammals. This is helpful given that we generally can’t just go out and count them.

The Oxfordshire Mammal Group, which is affiliated to The Mammal Society, will be offering talks and training sessions, as well as opportunities to get up close with wild animals. For instance, last month the group held a small mammal trapping event in Besselsleigh Wood near Appleton. Those attending were delighted by a close encounter with bank voles.

As well as enthusing people about the mammals around us, the Oxfordshire Mammal Group is aiming to increase the number of mammal records for our county. These records reveal trends in species distribution and abundance that go on to inform the conservation efforts of organisations like BBOWT.

One key species of interest is the hazel dormouse, which is recorded in just a handful of places in the county, including the majestic Warburg and Chinnor Hill nature reserves. Get in touch if you would like to help with dormouse surveys or are willing to have a survey carried out.