Animal Cwtch

28/09/2026

Check out this amazing photo of Gary, our giant African land snail, taken by the brilliant Chris Parsons Photography (.parsons.photography).

Gary might be slow, but there's a lot going on:

Snails have a tongue-like ribbon called a radula, covered in thousands of tiny teeth
Giant African land snails are hermaphrodites, so every snail can lay eggs, sometimes hundreds at a time
They breathe through a hole in the side of their body called a pneumostome

That last point about eggs is why pet land snails must never be released into the wild. In many countries, giant African land snails have become a serious invasive species, damaging crops and native wildlife. If you keep snails, eggs you don't want should be frozen, never thrown out in the garden.

Would you hold Gary?

28/09/2026

Today is World Rabies Day, and we want to talk about one of my favourite animals: bats.

Bats are easily in my top ten animals. They're the only mammals that can truly fly. They find their way in the dark using echolocation, and a tiny common pipistrelle, which weighs about the same as a 20p coin, can eat up to 3,000 insects in a single night. They're brilliant.

All UK bats are protected by law, and they need our help. They've lost roosts, hedgerows and the insects they feed on.

So here's one simple way to look after them, and yourself, at this time of year.

If you find a grounded or injured bat, please don't pick it up with bare hands.

A small number of UK bats have been found carrying a rabies-like virus called European bat lyssavirus. It's very rare, and it's no reason to fear bats. But it's why wild bats should only be handled by trained, vaccinated people, and why you'll never see us handling them.

What to do instead:

Wear gloves or use a thick cloth, and gently cover the bat with a small box
Keep pets and children away
Call the National Bat Helpline, run by the Bat Conservation Trust, for advice
If you're bitten or scratched, wash the area well with soap and water and contact NHS 111 or your GP straight away

October is Bat Appreciation Month, so we'll be sharing lots more about the UK's 18 bat species over the next few weeks.

What's your favourite bat fact?

27/09/2026

Almost every day, someone says to us, "You have the best job in the world."

And it's true. Although it's not always rainbows and roses.

It's hard work. It's not something anyone goes into to make money, because nearly everything is eaten up by animal costs. Animal businesses are, rightly, extremely expensive to run properly.

But it's incredible. We get to bring amazing animals to people and see their faces when they touch a snake for the first time, or discover that Sally really does feel like she's covered in beads. I still remember the first time I held a snake and an owl, and it was magic. Animal Cwtch is now part of that moment for thousands of people.

Then there's the team. We have the best people, with so many skills, so much experience and education, and so much personality. Everyone, past and present, has been a huge part of what Animal Cwtch is, and I can't thank them enough. Some are very familiar faces at our sessions, some work behind the scenes, and some fit us in around other jobs. I imagine at some point we'll lose Josh to another great adventure. Hopefully we get to keep him a while longer, but I really can't wait to see the incredible places he goes.

And then there are the animals. Watching them grow in confidence, learn and train is amazing. We have some real attention-seekers, like Merlin, Penny, Boba and Barry. Iron Bro has learnt to stay on his back during demonstrations, and Ryan taught himself to stay on his mat. The bonds they build are special. It's like watching your child take their first steps. Every milestone for our animals feels just as big for all of us in our little village.

And that's the final thing: the village. The excitement of "Have you heard about this animal?" and "Did you know this about that one?" That group enthusiasm, shared between people who love animals as much as we do.

So yes, it's the best place to work. I'm not sure it technically counts as a job when I don't draw a salary, but it's the best one regardless.

The animals and the people are what make Animal Cwtch the best place ever.

27/09/2026

Beavers are back in Wales, officially.

Happy World Rivers Day.

Here's some Welsh wildlife news you might have missed: since 4 March 2026, the Eurasian beaver has been legally recognised as a native species in Wales, with European Protected Species status.

Beavers disappeared from Wales centuries ago. They were hunted for their fur, meat and scent glands. Now they're often called ecosystem engineers. Their dams slow water down and create wetlands, which become homes for insects, amphibians, fish and birds.

There's still a lot to work out about how beavers and people live alongside each other, including farmers and landowners, and that conversation matters.

Did you know beavers' teeth are orange? It's iron in the enamel, which makes them extra strong.

Would you like to see beavers back in more Welsh rivers?

27/09/2026

What does a salmon need from a river?

A route it can travel, places to breed, and conditions that give its young a chance to survive.

This month, Natural Resources Wales reported that every principal salmon river it assessed in Wales was classed as at risk. That’s a hard thing to hear about an animal with such an extraordinary journey.

It’s also a good reason to pay attention to the work being done on river habitats and fish passage. If you’re near a river this weekend, stop and have a look at it. What wildlife can you spot from the path?

Read NRW’s update here: https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/welsh-salmon-remain-in-crisis-as-new-assessment-shows-all-monitored-rivers-at-risk/?lang=en

26/09/2026

Check out this amazing photo of Merlin, our white-faced scops owl, taken by the brilliant Chris Parsons Photography (.parsons.photography).

It's also European Day of Languages, so we thought we'd share some of our favourite animals in Welsh, starting with Merlin.

Tylluan – owl
Neidr – snake
Madfall – lizard
Draenog – hedgehog
Corryn – spider
Ystlum – bat
Morlo – seal
Mochyn daear – badger (it means "earth pig")
Pili-pala – butterfly

Which is your favourite? If you speak Welsh at home, tell us any we've missed. Our Welsh-medium schools always teach us new ones.

26/09/2026

🎃 Halloween is looking VERY busy for Animal Cwtch! 👻🐍🦉
We’re already pretty packed over the Halloween period, mostly with private events, parties and group bookings — but the good news is we do have a few public events where you can come and join us too!
So, if you fancy spending spooky season with some of our slightly spooky (and some not-so-spooky!) Animal Cwtch ambassadors, here’s where you can find us:
📸 25th October – Photography Shoot with Courtney Gleed
🐾 26th October – Dream Street, Neath
🎃 26th October – Bank Farm, Horton
🦇 29th October – Zuno Play
👻 30th October – Spooky Animal Encounters @ Founders & Co, Swansea
🧙‍♀️ 31st October & 1st November – The Welsh School of Witchcraft & Wizardry @ The British Bird of Prey Centre
We’ll be running the practical Care of Magical Creatures Masterclass for this one, which we are ridiculously excited about!
Each event is a little different, so have a look at the links on the poster for details, times and booking information.
It’s going to be a slightly bonkers week for the Animal Cwtch team… but we wouldn’t have it any other way. 😂🎃
Where will we be seeing you?

26/09/2026

I am SO looking forward to this one!

This October half-term, the British Bird of Prey Centre is transforming into the Welsh School of Witchcraft & Wizardry… and Animal Cwtch has been invited along to teach the practical Care of Magical Creatures Masterclass!

After pupils have investigated bones, skulls, owl pellets and other fascinating specimens in their Care of Magical Creatures lesson, it’ll be time for the practical — and that’s where we come in.

You’ll get an hour with the Animal Cwtch team, getting closer to some rather remarkable creatures, learning about them and, where appropriate, handling them too. British Bird Of Prey Centre
I’m genuinely so excited about this opportunity. To be working alongside the British Bird of Prey Centre, combining their incredible birds and knowledge with some of our rather different Animal Cwtch ambassadors, is going to make for such a brilliant experience.

And the whole event sounds amazing — wand making, potions, charms, transfiguration, flying lessons, magical creatures and plenty of Halloween mischief. It runs from 26th October to 1st November. British Bird Of Prey The British Bird of Prey Centre

Our Practical Masterclass is £10 per person in addition to admission, and places can be booked here:

Book Care of Magical Creatures – Practical Masterclass
https://booking.bookinghound.cloud/fe/booking?mode=ap&og=9edecf7f-8577-40b1-bf00-2fd8b089e5b2&uniqueid=38

I really can’t wait for this one. Now we just need to decide which of our creatures are magical enough to make the school roster...

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