Citizen scientists keen to help the Mammal Society out will be mailed owl pellets, and asked to record the shrew parts they find online.

A UK conservation charity needs volunteers to help analyse ‘owl pellets’ for parts of a potentially invasive mammal - before it becomes a big problem for native wildlife.

This week (20-26 May) is Invasive Species Week, and the Mammal Society is offering to mail out bird of prey ‘leftovers’ to members of the public, to help to track the spread of a newly-arrived shrew species. The greater white-toothed shrew is native to Europe, North Africa and some of the Channel Islands. It’s similar in size to Britain’s common shrew, but can be told apart by its prominent ears and long white hairs on its tail.