Mammals: Skomer Island Archive
Skomer Island is an island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, in the community of Marloes and St Brides, West Wales.
Although the island is primarily managed to protect it's abundant seabird populations, the island's land mammals include a unique island race of Bank Vole, known as the Skomer Vole (Myodes glareolus skomerensis), as well as Wood Mouse, Rabbit, Common and Pygmy Shrew.
The presence of rabbits has played a major role in respect of the island vegetation, at one time in conjunction with domestic stock, but now in the absence of these it is the sole grazing mammal. Rabbits can be seen around Skomer in a variety of colours and patterns, while albino, long-haired and white saddled individuals also occur.
Grey seals are present around Skomer at all times of the year. During the summer months the numbers increase until a peak is reached in the autumn when as many as 150 animals may be present on some days. They can often be seen hauled out on outlying rocks at low tide and the rocks at the Garland Stone are regularly used for this purpose.
Bats including the Greater Horseshoe Bat are occasionally seen during the summer months, although whether they are residents or wanderers from the mainland is not known.
