Wildlife watch

Jenny Ackland discovers the wonders of nature you can spot this month.

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What do you do when the weather gets colder? I bet that before you head outside you put on a warm coat, hat and gloves. Did you know there is a special insect that already has its own builtin cold weather outfit? December moths are fully kitted out with a thick body and a coat of long hairlike scales that help keep it warm when the temperature drops.

This is one of the busiest months for foxes. They can make quite a racket barking and shrieking late at night as they call to attract mates. Another mammal you may spot is the lesser-known polecat. They have a bandit-like look, with a patch of dark fur across their eyes. In freezing weather they move from their dens in disused rabbit burrows to warmer spots under hay bales or compost heaps.