Facts About Mammals

  • The Brown Hare is the fastest land mammal in the UK, reaching speeds of up to 45mph
  • At only 6cm long, the Pygmy Shrew is the smallest land mammal in Britain.
  • The lightest mammal in the UK is the Pipistrelle bat, weighing only 5g (which is equivalent to a 2p coin).
  • Often mistaken as a bird, bats are the world's only flying mammals that are capable of generating their own lift (there are some flying squirrels etc, but they simply glide between treetops).
  • There are 17 different species of bat in Great Britain.
  • Old tennis balls are sometimes turned into homes for Harvest Mice.  A hole is bored into the ball, which is then attached to a pole up to 1.5m off the ground.  It provides a safe sanctuary away from would-be predators.