Mammals

Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) - still fairly common in the fields, especially noticeable in spring

Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) - widespread around the parish. Numbers vary widely, and still subject to lethal control measures in places. This species has seen a huge decline in numbers in much of eastern England, although still seems to be holding up in Shotesham.

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) - occasional sightings, probably constantly present but seldom encountered. Can sometimes be heard at night.

Otter (Lutra lutra) - a family were present on the Tas in at least 2018 and 2021. May well also travel through the Common on occasion although not yet seen here.

Badger (Meles meles) - one was seen near the Common in May 2007. There are other records too - how many setts could be hidden away in the woods?

Stoat (Mustela erminea) - fairly regularly seen, sometimes whilst hunting rabbits

Weasel (Mustela nivalis) - seems to be much scarcer than Stoat in the village, my only sighting being one in my garden in July 2020.

Polecat (Mustela putorius) - one by the road from Stoke in September 2017 after dark; several recent sightings of road casualties nearby too. This species was once persecuted so severely its range had retreated to the Welsh borders, but in recent years it has spread back across England. It can also hybridise with ferrets (the domesticated form of Polecat) where feral populations of the latter exist.

American Mink (Neovison vison) - Occurs along the Tas. Numbers of this invasive non-native  species were significantly reduced through trapping, but the odd individual still occurs.

Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) - common 

Yellow-necked Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) - probably widespread, and certainly known from one house near the Grove.

Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius) - occasional sightings on the Common for many years, but a clear increase in 2020 when could be located along the stream in several locations. The distinctive 'plop' of animals dropping into the water to escape to detection is now regularly heard, and the voles can be seen with patience.

Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus) - reported from Shotesham Park, and probably widely overlooked, best detected by finding their nests in the late summer

Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus) - seen in garden, brought in by cat, found under snake mats at Stubbs Green.

Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) - found to be common when studied through trapping techniques, and likely the main prey of the Barn Owls and Kestrels on the Common. Not easy to see though. Voles in gardens  seem more likely to be Bank Voles

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - widespread, can become numerous where local food sources allow

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) - common

Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) - occasionally seen around the village, presumably mostly overlooked

Mole (Talpa europaea) - live animals only occasionally seen, but mole hills show the species to be widespread still around the village, despite still being heavily persecuted.

Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens) - probably widely overlooked by wet areas, but my only records are from 2018 (dead at Stubbs Green) and 2020 (live in my garden)

Common Shrew (Sorex araneus) - likely very common

Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) - likely common, and confirmed as present by Frank Mitchell

Barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus) - this apparently scarce bat has been detected by sound-recording equipment at night, in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016

Serotine (Eptesicus serotinus) - detected by sound-recording equipment in 2013, 2016

Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) - detected by sound-recording equipment in 2013, 2016

Noctule (Nyctalus noctula) - larger bats occasionally seen flying high in the early evening are assumed to be this species; sound-recorded in 2016

Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) - detected by sound-recording equipment in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016

Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) - detected by sound-recording equipment in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016

Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) - detected by sound-recording equipment in 2016

Human (Homo sapiens) - about 550 people live in the parish of Shotesham, with an age-class distribution skewed to an older demographic than for the country as a whole; some interesting statistics found here

Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) - widespread around the parish, mostly hidden in woods by day. 

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) - the largest wild land mammal in Britain, Red Deer clearly wander into the parish from time to time as evidenced by finding their footprints on occasion. There is a well-established herd in the Mulbarton/Ketteringham area that is presumably the source of these animals.

Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis) - initially confined to the Broads, but now becoming increasingly regular in the fields around Shotesham

Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) - increasingly regular around the village, sometimes in gardens