Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Sunday 20th July 2008

Kid's wildlife

There are so many fascinating creatures around the river and canals.

The next time you're on a walk along the towpaths, why not keep your eyes peeled for some great wildlife. Take a look at some facts about animals around the water and surprise your family and friends with what you know.

In this section ...

WOW »
WOW - Games, fun activities, information about our canals and rivers, plus loads more. More »
Toad »
Toads are not generally the most glamorous of creatures; they are quite plump and have rough skin which appears to be covered in warts. More »
Water vole »
Water voles have small ears, blunt noses and a short, furry tail. There are six different species in the UK alone. They are pink and hair-free when they are born. More »
Unusual wildlife »
People saw some loads of wildlife along the rivers and canals during last year’s wildlife survey. And this year doesn’t look to be any exception after the famous whale which swam along the Thames in central London in January. More »
Fox »
A fox normally has fur of a red/brown colour, although sometimes they are found to have black and silvery fur. They have large, bushy tails which often have a white tip. More »
Frog »
Frogs are generally green, brown or yellow, but some have been known to be pink or even orange! They have smooth skin and are often covered with dark blotches. More »
Mink »
Mink are part of the same family as badgers and otters. They have short limbs and a tail which is generally about one third of the length of their bodies. More »
Otter »
With webbed feet, long tails and long bodies, otters are strong swimmers. Their eyes can be found on the tops of their heads and they have whiskers growing around their snout. More »
Bumblebee »
You can easily spot bumblebees due to their bright colours – they are black and either yellow or orange. More »
Dragonfly »
Dragonflies have long, thick bodies with four wings and two large eyes (which take up most of the head!) After a few days into adult life, they develop a jewel-like colour. More »
Duck »
With their stout bodies, short necks and wings, ducks waddle instead of walking due to their webbed feet. More »
Badgers »
Badgers are really easy to identify – they have grey bodies, dark legs and a white head with a dark stripe over each eye on their small, black heads. They also have short legs and very short tails. More »
Bat »
The French describe bats as ‘mice with wings’, as they have a body the size of a mouse and wings. More »