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Tennis Balls = Homes for Harvest Mice
Photo courtesy of James Lees
Conservationists hope that the simple tennis ball could be just the thing to give harvest mice an advantage this year.

While only new balls will do for the players about to do battle on Wimbledon’s courts, old ones are making perfect nest houses for the tiny mice at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
 
Staff at the Centre in Gloucestershire hope it will boost the numbers of mice living in its wetland mammal area.

“I have cut small penny sized holes in the balls and put straw inside and they seem to be taking very well to them.  We have about 30 in our collection here and we are hoping that the tennis balls will make them feel secure so that they breed well this year.” John Crooks, mammal manager, explained.

“A few years ago numbers of the mice in the wild did fall but they are starting make a come back as they many populations have moved to new nesting sites such as hedgerows and wetlands.”

Photo courtesy of James Lees
The mice, which only measure about two inches in length when fully grown, are the smallest rodents in the UK.
 
Their breeding season is from May to September and they tend to have litters of four to six young.  In the wild they weave circular nests out of grasses and attach them to stems high above the ground.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.