Wildlife

The Coypu is a large semi-aquatic rodent that is originally native to South America but was introduced to Europe in the last century as a result of the fur trade. Some escaped from fur farms and others were released into the wild when the fur trade declined. It is widely distributed across France and is present in many lakes and waterways feeding on aquatic vegetation, roots, stems, water lilies and lake side plants.

Among the most colourful of the salamander family is the Fire Salamander, easily recognisable by its striking black and yellow markings. The Fire salamander is widely distributed across France, normally at altitudes of between 400 and 1000 metres.

These nocturnal creatures, derived their name because they have a habit of hibernating in damp logs and when people threw a log on to the fire sometimes a Fire salamander would crawl out. This led people to believe that they lived in fire.

Fire Salamanders are often seen on forest paths, after rain and although their preferred habit is undoubtedly forests and wooded areas, you might be completely unaware of their existence in your garden, but on a damp, rainy night, take a look outside with a torch, especially in the early Autumn and spring. A favourite hibernating place is also in the water meter housing.

Red squirrels are slightly smaller than the Grey squirrel with adults weighing about 350g, their bodies measure between 18 - 24 cm and their bushy tails up to 18 cm long. The Red squirrel generally has a reddish brown fur and a cream to white belly although their fur colour can vary locally. In the winter it adults develop large blackish furry tufts on their ears and their fur colour can darken.

The Red squirrel is a protected animal throughout most of Europe and is far more common in France than the UK, this is mainly because of an abundance of suitable habitat - dense forest and fewer Grey squirrels.

The Red squirrel is most active early mornings and in the evening. It is a solitary creature except when mating or raising its young. It is quite a vocal creature often chattering and growling with occasional screeches, when it's annoyed. It will also wave its tail back and forth. It has sharp curved claws to enable it to easily climb. Its large bushy tail helps it to balance and also helps to keep the squirrel warm in the winter.

Foxes are widespread in France, but only seen infrequently, being generally afraid of contact with humans.
Foxes are extremely nimble, using their tails to aid with balance, and they can pursue their prey at speeds up to 70 kmh.
Foxes live for about two years, in dens that can be underground or concealed under piles of old wood etc. Unlike wolves, foxes prefer to hunt alone, with rodents, eggs, birds, insects and fruit representing the majority of the diet. They usually hunt and eat around dawn and dusk.
It is the risk that they pose to poultry that causes their widespread lack of popularity, and it is common for foxes to be hunted and shot. They do however serve a role in controlling populations of other small mammals such as rabbits that cause damage to crops.

Also known as the Common Wall Lizard, the European Wall Lizard is very common in France. In the southern parts of the country, a sunny day can see dozens of these basking on the walls of properties and scurrying across the floor.
These wall lizards grow up to about 15cm - 19cm long, of which more than 50% is tail. The patterns and markings vary a lot, from grey to brown, with a varying amount of definition in the patterns. When the eggs first hatch the baby lizards are about 2cm long. Interestingly, they have quite a long life span - up to about 7 years.
The lizards are keen hunters, and eat insects and small invertebrates of most types. Meanwhile they are hunted, mostly by snakes.
Wall lizards have also been introduced into parts of the UK.

Perez’s frog is a small to medium size frog, males 3.5 to 7cm, females 4.5 to 8.5cm. They have a slim appearance with a head that is a little wider than it is long; the nose viewed in profile is rounded and prominent. Horizontal oval pupil, iris is a more or less uniform mixture of gold and black. The back is warty to varying degrees and is greenish or brownish, usually with irregular dark brown spots and lateral pleats which are brown / bronze in colour. The belly is whitish flecked with splashes of grey or brown which can be quite dense. Confusion is possible with the Edible frog, where they share the same region.
In France they are found in the south and south west in a large range of aquatic habitats, coastal wetlands, irrigation canals, drainage ditches, ponds and rivers. Slightly saline and brackish waters are tolerated. Adults are present either in the water or very close to the water all the year where they are very noisy, calling day and night. Prey is mainly insects, spiders and worms. Occasionally small fish and other frogs will be taken.
Reproduction is from March until May, females produce between 1000 and 10,000 eggs which take up to 4 months to develop. 
The species is in decline in the south of France particularly where the Marsh frog is present. It may equally be the case that in Poitou-Charentes there is an under estimation of their numbers due to the possible confusion with both the Edible frog and the Marsh frog. 

The European green woodpecker occurs in most parts of Europe and in western Asia. All have green upperparts, paler yellowish underparts, a red crown and moustachial stripe which has a red centre in males but is all black in females. The European green woodpecker measures 30–36 cm in length with a 45–51 cm wingspan.
The European green woodpecker spends much of its time feeding on ants on the ground and does not often 'drum' on trees like other woodpecker species. It is a shy bird but usually draws attention with its loud calls. A nest hole is excavated in a tree; four to six eggs are laid which hatch after 19–20 days
Although the European green woodpecker is shy and wary, it is usually its loud calls, known as yaffling, which first draw attention. It 'drums' rarely (a soft, fast roll), but often gives a noisy kyü-kyü-kyück while flying. The song is a loud series of 10-18 'klü' sounds which gets slightly faster towards the end and falls slightly in pitch.[2] The female makes a thinner pü-pü-pü-pü-pü-pü-pü

Crayfish occur naturally in most lakes & rivers in France.  The carp love to eat them & almost without exception where there’s large carp you’ll find crayfish too... they are an excellent source of protein which makes the carp grow very quickly. Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or mudbugs, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related. They breathe through feather-like gills and are found in bodies of water. Some species are found in brooks and streams where there is fresh water running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and rice paddies. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species such as the invasive Procambarus clarkii are hardier. Crayfish feed on living and dead animals and plants.

The area is also a birdwatchers paradise. We regularly see, red kites, owls, buzzards, osprey, woodpeckers, hoopoes, jays, mallard ducks, moorhens, coots and kingfishers, to name but a few. Make sure to pack your binoculars.

Widespread across the whole of France the Wild Boar ~ Sus scrofa scrofa or Sanglier as it is known by the French is probably the most hunted mammal in France, much prized for its meat its estimated that 10's of thousands are killed each year by hunters. In France they are often hunted using dogs.

Although they are large and powerful beasts and are capable of causing much damage with their tusks, they are on the whole shy, retiring animals that are seldom seen, but they may become aggressive in defence if they are cornered or frightened and as with all animals the female will understandably protect her young if she feels threatened.
The Wild Boar prefers to live in dense forests and undergrowth and is mainly nocturnal, living in close knit family groups, although older males tend to be solitary. Boar are omnivorous their diet consists mainly of berries, fruit, fungi, roots, grains and grass with acorns being a favourite, they will also root about in the soil for worms and insects.