| The Isle of Wight, being separated from the UK | | | | the American Mink and the destruction of their habitats |
| mainland by water, and possessing an excellent | | | | through industrial and agricultural development, the |
| climate and environment, as well as plenty of variety in | | | | former due entirely to its environments (hedgerows |
| its landscape to provide many sorts of habitat, has | | | | and woodland) being destroyed. |
| long been a haven for animals that haven't fared as | | | | The Glanville Fritillary is another animal that visitors to |
| well on the mainland. This article will have a look at | | | | the island can hope to see. This orange and brown |
| some of those animals and offer some explanation as | | | | butterfly displays its colour in a chequered pattern, and |
| to why they have survived there. | | | | is nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of in the UK. On |
| The first is the Red Squirrel, which is an increasingly | | | | the Island, however, this butterfly is still doing well, and |
| rare sight in Scotland, and almost unknown in England | | | | sightings are common if you're with somebody who |
| and Wales. The main reason for their decline is the | | | | knows where to look, and at the island at the right time |
| introduction of the grey squirrel, which takes up the | | | | of year. |
| same habitats but is larger and more vicious than the | | | | Finally, twelve species of bats are found on the island, |
| red. The greys haven't reached the Isle of Wight | | | | and as only fifteen are found in the UK as a whole, |
| though, and so here the Red Squirrels can still make | | | | that's not an insignificant amount. Bats have been on |
| use of the habitats that they like. | | | | the rise again in many parts of the UK, but on the Isle |
| Other animals that are also rare in England, mostly due | | | | of Wight they are definitely still in full force. Bat walks |
| to the destruction of their habitats because of industrial | | | | are a good way to hear them, but seeing bats has to |
| or agricultural work, are the dormouse and the water | | | | be done during twilight, and even then they may well |
| vole. The latter was mostly due to the introduction of | | | | not be much more than a brown blur. |