UK
In London, this month, (September 2020) my family had not one, but two foxes, trotting up and down the path, lying sunning in the long grass.
During the Covid19 period, all over London and elsewhere, grass has grown. We used to have a retired man as a gardener. Now the retired gardeners, picking up pin money, are staying home.
The gardeners from overseas, we had Portuguese gardeners, are stuck in their own coutnries and cannot get back to Britain. Our last Portuguese gardener visited about four gardens in the street, all owned by people too old or frail or busy to push a lawnmower. Relying on the gardeners bringing their own equipment, the househlders no longer have the tree cutting and grass and hedge strimming equipment.
In the UK we are interested in the foxes, though not keen to go in the garden when a fox is there, though they scamper away even when yu approach the window.
A hedgehog is a real pleasure. I saw one once. It tried to hide behind the carage door. Apparently they are nocturnal.
The best loved wild animal is probably the red squirrel. The grey squirrel whichhas taken over and is blamed for the demise of the reds is tolerated by most and hated by a few.
Wales
One of the delights of Wales is the number of sheep in the fields. Occasionally you encounter herds of sheep in narrow country lanes. You can recently since Covid19 see amusing videos of sheep wandering in villages and city centres.
Scotland
Singapore
We live part of the year in Singapore. In the Singapore buildings, such as the private flats or condos, and the public hawker centres (food courts) you often see cockroaches. Ants, cockroaches, tiny lizards, are everywhere.
When we go to Singapore, we see lots of birds and hear the crickets. In the condos many people keep dogs. cats are less common, but there are cats wandering about. If you own a cat in a condo, you must have the blcony blocked off with wrought iron or glass to prevent the cat jumping off.
Over in Singapore, in a condo, you see people walking dogs. In some HDBs (public housing - tower blocks) the residents keep small animals in cages on the common corridors.
In Singapore it is forbidden to feed the macaques (which look like monkeys). They get used to people bringing food in plastic bags. So when other people bring plastic bags dut don't feed the monkeys, the moneksys grab plastic bags containg your phones and cameras and valuables, and, finding no food, the 'monkeys' throw the bags i inaccessible places of into the water and then attack you.
Macaques also cause huge damage when they get into condos. They can excrete and claw up your curtains and carpets and furniture and woodwork and bedding, ruin food, terrify the elderly who fall over and injure themselves running away. Damage cars, cause car accidents. Overturn dustbins when looking for food.
Chase small children. biet and scratch.
Throw down washing and dislodge heavy objects like flower pots. Put a building into lockdown. Require teams of animal experts, abmulances, and even army climbers up the sides of buildings.
Monitor Lizards
My husband went running though open land. Behind a netting, bordering an army base, he saw a giant lizard. We have a video of it. It was really angry swishing its tail. Why? Maybe protecting baby lizards nearby?
More large lizards roam freely in the Botanical Gardens (which are free).
We also travel to the USA, where we used to live, and our son went to school there. You have probably seen photos of bears and other animalson YouTube and on videos shared on Facebook.
In Canada we were also warned aout bears.
Romania
We went hiking with a hiking group in Romania in summer time, June. I was shocked to hear warnings on the radio in the hotel and restaurants, and on the printed sheets with the daily news at the hotel breakfast , and signs in the national parks, warning to beware of bears.
Like in the USA, you don't carry food such as sandwiches or food wrappers which would attract animals.
Useful Websites
USA
https://wikitravel.org/en/Yellowstone_National_Park
UK
https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/mammals/british-deer-guide/
BEARS GENERAL
https://geology.com/stories/13/bear-areas/
Bears and safety
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/21/what-to-do-bear-encounter-attack
SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE MONITOR LIZARDS
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal-advisories/monitor-lizards
SINGAPORE CROCODILES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal-advisories/estuarine-crocodiles#:~:text=Crocodiles%20occur%20naturally%20in%20the,more%20than%205m%20in%20length.
SINGAPORE MACAQUES
https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/animal-advisories/macaques
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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