Since this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is important that all animals and fish are protected.
Bat surveying on Wimbledon and Putney Commons
During the summer of 2008, representatives from The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) conducted a number of monitoring projects to gain a better insight into the behaviour of bats across Wimbledon and Putney Commons .
Previous studies carried out in 2007, had confirmed that Noctule, Common pipistrelle, Soprano pipistrelle, Nathius pipistrelle, Daubenton's bat and possibly Whiskered bats were present on the commons and in June 2008, Long-eared bats were also recorded.
Interestingly, one of the most active roosts recorded by the BCT is situated not in the common's woodlands but in a building very near to the Ranger's Office.
Including adults and juveniles, the final count for this particular roost of Soprano pipistrelles made on 21 st July 2008 , was a very impressive 113 individual bats.
The most recent survey carried out by the team, took place during late August 2008 in the area of woodland near to the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields.
Although not presently considered to occur in London , the BCT team hoped that the woodland in this area may provide a habitat for the rare Barbastelle bat.
While a full analysis of the recordings from this survey still needs to be made by experts from the BCT, unfortunately, no evidence of the presence of Barbastelles was collected on this particular occasion.
Calls from larger species of bats were however recorded and Philip Briggs of the BCT has informed us that a social call from a Noctule bat was definitely noted and that large numbers Soprano pipistrelles were seen around both of the bridges on the Beverley Brook near to the Richardson Evans playing fields pavilion.
We would like to thank the BCT for all their hard work on the commons and for sharing with the Ranger's Office all of their relevant field data.
ANIMALS
The range of animals observed on Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are classified under the following orders of mammals:
| Mole | Talpa europaea |
| Hedghog | Erinaceus europaeus |
| Common Shrew | Sorex araneus |
| Pygmy Shrew | Sorex minutus |
| Water Shrew * | Neomys fodiens |
| Daubenton's Bat | Myotis daubentoni |
| Noctule | Nyctalus noctula |
| Common pipistrelle | Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
| Soprano pipistrelle | Pipistrellus pygmaeus |
| Nathusius pipistrelle | Pipistrellus nathusii |
| Whiskered Bat | Myotis mystacinus |
| Brown long-eared Bat | Plecotus auritus |
| Serotine | Eptesicus serotinus |
| Rabbit | Oryctolagus cuniculus |
| Grey Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Bank Vole | Clethrionomys glareolus |
| Field Vole | Microtus agrestis |
| Water Vole * | Arvicola terrestris |
| Wood Mouse | Apodemus sylvaticus |
| House Mouse | Mus musculus |
| Common Rat | Rattus norvegicus |
| Womble | Womblus commonus sp. litterpickerus |
| Fox | Vulpes vulpes |
| Stoat | Mustela erminea |
| Weasel | Mustela nivalis |
| Badger | Meles meles |
| Ferret (feral) | Mustela furo Latest sighting 5th May 03 |
| Cat (feral) | Felis catus |
| Muntjac | Muntiacus reevisi |
| Common Toad | Bufo bufo |
| Common Frog | Rana temporaria |
| Smooth newt | Triturus vulgaris |
| Terrapin - Red-eared slider | Trachenys Scripta elegans |
| Adder | Vipera berus |
| Grass Snake | Natrix natrix |
| Common Lizard | Lacerta vivipara |
| Common Carp | Cyprinus carpio |
| Mirror Carp | Cyprinus var |
| Grass Carp | Ctenopharyngodan idella |
| Golden Rudd | Scardinus erythrophthalmus |
| Bream | Abramis brama |
| Perch | Perca fluviatilis |
| Pike | Esox lucius |
| Eel | Anguila anguila |
| Goldfish | Carassius sp |
| Koi Carp | Not known |
| Tench | Tinca tinca |
| 5-spine Stickleback | Gasterosteus aculeatus |
| Mink | Mustela vison |
Updated January 2007 (Note * = no recent sightings)
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