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Other Services and Expert Advice

Morelia Ecology is happy to give advice and help on many aspects of ecology and issues concerning local wildlife.
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I am often asked to ID animals. I have recently identified an insect species of economic concern to a local business  and given advice on it's ecology and suggested practical control methods (the insects were from the Order Psocoptera). In 2013 I was asked to ID a snake found by a local farmer in a log pile, it was an African House Snake (a species often kept as a pet).
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I have been involved in moving reptiles and amphibians that have fallen into trenches dug for foundations on building sites.
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I have given talks to local primary schools on the subject of snakes. I give an annual talk for the RSPB on the reptiles and amphibians that are found on one of their larger reserves.
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In 2015 I spent some time in the Sarapiqui region of Costa Rica where I rescued several Cane Toads and Smooth Skinned Toads that had fallen into disused water cisterns. A 'skill' perfected on building sites in the UK.

In 2014 I was asked to make a programme for BBC's 'The Living World' about the terrestrial habitat of the Great Crested Newt.
On several occasions I have been consulted on the instructions given to developers regarding Great Crested Newts, it is often difficult for a layman to understand the rational underpinning those instructions.

The accurate identification of species often takes many years of experience and is of fundamental importance when dealing with wildlife legislation. Experience in the use of taxanomic keys for the more difficult to ID invertebrate species is also an important skill.

The ID of prey remains and the ability to ascertain the predator are skill sets not easily taught to graduates.

 

My 2014-15 study of Barn Owl feeding ecology was dependant on the accurate ID of prey remains. Prey remains and other feeding signs are often important when conducting wildlife surveys.

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