A NEW study is raising hopes for the conservation of some fish species threatened with extinction.

IT wouldn’t be Christmas without log fires blazing on most hearths.

LONG before Hollywood began to associate bats with blood-sucking vampires and drive the fear of God into people, bats had a poor public image.

IT’S always fascinating to observe how animals react to changing weather, especially in winter.

THE time of year when people eat and drink much more than usual is upon on us.

LIKE the fox, it seems the otter is also adapting to living in urban areas, including Cork City where they are seen regularly at night on the River Lee.

IT’S the season when salmon are heading up rivers to spawn, a time when poachers once engaged in cat and mouse games with gardaí and bailiffs, now known as fishery protection officers.

SOME people out deer watching of late have contacted us in relation to what they have described as “no-go areas” where quite high fencing barred their way into sections of woodland.

HEAVY rainfall all this year is resulting in contamination of drinking water in some areas, especially those served by private supplies and group schemes.

AN old friend from days working in the bog long ago was recently talking with us about the disappearing curlew, whose evocative ‘cur..lee cur..lee’ cry hasn’t been heard for years.