Eryri Mountains with cloud inversion in valley below

NEWS & VIEWS ABOUT NORTH WALES WILDLIFE

Four juvenile Hen Harrier chicks in nest waiting for food

LATEST:
A worrying report has found elevated levels of the chemicals used in spot on flea and tick treatments for dogs and cats in Welsh rivers and streams. This is shown to be killing aquatic insects. Concentrations were sometimes up to 45 times above the safe level. The research, led by Prof Steve Ormerod together with Natural Resources Wales, indicates that this may be from people applying spot on and afterwards either washing the animal in the shower or washing their bedding. Drains can route the chamicals into small urban streams in particular.

We should all think about when and how we apply spot on treatments - our rivers and streams don't need any further problems. Read the full article here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze0j2dgkx4o

To find out about a campaign run by the North Wales Rivers Trust to inform dog owners of the damage that can be done to our rivers and streams - click here to read more about the campaign and what we can all do to help. Lots of information here so do please take a look.

Would you like to volunteer to help our rivers and streams. The North Wales Rivers Trust is asking for volunteers to become River Ambassadors.

If you're interested - go to their website https://northwalesriverstrust.org to find out what you can do

WILDLIFE HOTSPOTS IN NORTH WALES

2026 is proving to be good for birdwatching in North Wales and we have had some interesting visitors!

If you are planning to come to the area, here are some suggestions for places to visit during Autumn

Rhos Point, Rhos on Sea and the cycle & footpath between Pensarn, Abergele and Llandulas will have nice numbers of Turnstones and other waders amongst the rocks - all busy as the tide turns.

The RSPB Reserve at Cors Ddyga, Pentre Berw Ynys Mon (Anglesey) is now busy with large numbers of Waders, Ducks and Geese. You may well also see Marsh Harrier and much more - well worth a visit as it's easy to get around on well laid paths.

Llyn Celanedd Reseve (formerly known as The Spinnies) at the mouth of the Afon Ogwen is almost certain to give good views of the "resident" Kingfisher and has comfortable hides

Visit Point Lynas at the very north eastern tip of Ynys Mon to see Dolphins and Porpoise - Dolphins have been seen too off the Great Orme in Llandudno and off Rhos on Sea

If you want to see Red Squirrels, visit the Dingle Reserve at Llangefni Ynys Mon. This is another delightful area with boardwalks laid to get you around. Another top squirrel spotting location is Llyn Parc Mawr, Newborough Forest, again on Anglesey which has 60% of Welsh Red Squirrels.

There is so much more to share about North Wales and its wildlife and landscape so please visit again as the seasons move on and we update this roundup of what to see.

WARNING - This report does not make easy reading

Published in February 2026 the Wales Habitats Regulations 9A Summary Report (2019–2024) — is an important document that deserves far more public attention than it is likely to get.

This report from Natural Resources Wales gives the true picture of what is happening to wildlife, habitats and biodiversity in Wales. Things need to change and organisations like the North Wales Rivers Trust need all the support they can get.

Some bad news about Welsh rivers

We all know about phosphates - think Wye and Usk - but now it seems more of our SAC (Special Areas of Conservation) rivers are in trouble.

In north west Wales the Afon Eden and Gwyrfai have now missed the phosphate target according to NRW. These two lovely small rivers join the Teifi, Cleddau, Dee, Usk and the Wye on this sad list.

This is a significant deterioration since the last assessment in 2021and puts water quality and even more wildlife at risk.

Afon Eden

Splash Patrol

COULD YOUR DOG'S FLEA & TICK TREATMENT BE HARMING WILDLIFE

This could be happening every time your dog goes for a swim in a river or lake. Keeping them out of the water for at least 48 hours after treatment means that the strong insecticides found in these treatments have less chance of washing out of their coat and putting the aquatic insects that the whole ecosystem depends on at risk.
These chemicals wash into rivers and lakes through swimming, rain, muddy paws, washed bedding, drains and even dog waste - and they can stay active for a long time afterwards.

SPLASH PATROL is a campaign launched by the NORTH WALES RIVERS TRUST to help spread the word and help dog owners know that simply protecting their animals can have unforeseen consequences. Most of us don't know that these treatments can be so harmful to the environment. Two of the most common insecticides in flea and tick treatment have already been banned for agricultural use in the EU yet they are still used widely on pets. These chemicals don't know the difference between a flea and a mayfly so kill both.

To learn a lot more about the campaign and to join a growing movement of dog owners, anglers, paddleboarders, swimmers and families that believe we can make a difference together, click on the link below to visit the NWRT website. Here you can get more information, download a leaflet and maybe purchase a SPLASH PATROL embroidered badge to sew on yours dogs bandana or your rucksack.(the Trust are giving away the first 20 badges completely free to the first people that join us in helping to protect our North Wales rivers)
https://northwalesriverstrust.org/splashpatrol

Every movement begins with people willing to act so please share this information if you can
PROTECT YOUR DOG PROTECT YOUR RIVER