Stef Wild

Art Update- First Print

Hello ^^

I’ve been working on a lot of wildlife ink and paper theatre dioramas recently, photographing them as I go. I’d love to eventually turn more of them into prints, but that will take a bit of investment. For now, I’ve made a small, tentative first attempt at offering prints- a 7x5" print of 'A Blaze of Fire in the Pale Morning Light'.

I'd also love to get a website shop up and running but in the meantime have reopened my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/StefWildStudio

I’ve talked about my art on this channel a few times, and I’m really happy to finally be able to share a print.

1 day ago | [YT] | 18

Stef Wild

Swan Attack - Lerryn
On Sunday 19th April I visited Lerryn and was watching and filming two beautiful mute swans.
On Monday 20th April, two spaniels attacked the female swan and left her in such a terrible state that The Swan Squad, who wonderfully came to rescue her, had no choice but to put her to sleep. I first heard about this on Tuesday and have since seen further details posted by The Swan Squad. They said that it was the worst case they and the vet have ever dealt with, and the details of her injuries are absolutely horrific.
Her partner is now left alone. Their nest, containing eggs, has been abandoned.
Many people are naturally very angry and upset by this. I find it heartbreaking how this was so avoidable. It did not need to happen. As The Swan Squad said in their post, 'There is no excuse for such irresponsibility! For a dog to be that vicious, the owners must have known.'
They are calling for witnesses to contact the police, quoting the crime ref no: 50260099267.

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 32

Stef Wild

Protect Cornwall’s Wildlife 🌿🐝Stop Glyphosate in Cornwall!

Cornwall Council plans to restart widespread glyphosate spraying on roads and footpaths. Here’s why this should be reconsidered:

Glyphosate:
🌱 Kills plant. Its intended use is as a weedkiller, but it also removes food sources for insects and wildlife.
🧫 Disrupts soil health. It harms beneficial microbes and reduces soil nutrients.
🪱 Kills earthworms. Earthworms are key for healthy soil and a major food source for birds and other animals.
💧 Affects waterways. It can run off into rivers and streams, impacting aquatic life.
🧠 Health concerns. Some studies have raised questions about potential effects on organs, and possible neurological or reproductive impacts of the chemical.

After progress in reducing its use in recent years, the decision to reintroduce it is very concerning.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust have said:
"We’ve raised significant concerns about the potential impacts on biodiversity and the apparent conflict with the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy." (CWT, 16th April, 26)


If you’re interested, there is currently a petition about this issue here:
c.org/t8jTQYvnvm


#Cornwall #Glyphosate #Environment #Wildlife #Pollinators

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 15

Stef Wild

She is a mustelid with a long, flexible body and relatively short legs.

She is primarily nocturnal, with activity concentrated at night and around twilight.

She is capable of rapid movement and is especially well adapted for agile travel through dense vegetation and complex terrain.

She is largely solitary outside the breeding season.

She uses scent marking as an important means of communication.

She makes use of a variety of concealed resting and breeding sites, including cavities and crevices.

She is an opportunistic feeder, with diet varying according to season and availability.

She regularly uses both ground and arboreal habitats.

She can descend tree trunks headfirst by rotating her hind feet so the claws grip the bark.

Her young are born in spring following delayed implantation.

She typically has dark brown fur and a yellow throat or chest patch.

She is a pine marten.

I once watched a wild pine marten from just a couple of feet away- a moment I’ll never forget. If you’d like to read about that encounter and learn more about these remarkable animals, you can visit my blog post here: www.stefwildstudio.com/wildlife-blog/the-pine-mart…

2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 16

Stef Wild

Before the year ends, let’s celebrate some victories for wildlife and animals! 🐾

🌟 2025 Animal & Wildlife Victories

🐺 Poland officially banned fur farming on 2 December 2025, ending the killing of millions of mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas in tiny cages for their fur.

🐣 Italy published rules on 4 November 2025 to end the systematic killing of male chicks in the egg industry by 2027, meaning millions of male chicks will no longer be ground up or suffocated shortly after hatching just because they can’t lay eggs.

🐶 Jakarta banned the dog & cat meat trade in late November 2025, making it illegal to sell, slaughter or consume dogs and cats, ending a long‑standing practice that subjected them to brutal handling and killing.

🦜 Operation Thunder 2025 (15 Sep–15 Oct) rescued nearly 30,000 trafficked wild animals, including thousands of birds, tortoises, reptiles, primates and pangolins, freeing them from illegal trade networks and exploitation.

🦊 On the 21 December 2025 the UK government announced plans to ban trail hunting, ending a practice long used as a smokescreen for pursuing, injuring and killing wild mammals with packs of hounds, a cruel activity that causes terror, and death.


#AnimalWelfare
#WildlifeConservation
#GoodNewsAnimals
#2025Wins
#ProtectAnimals

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 27

Stef Wild

Hello 😊🐦📹

I hope you’re all having a lovely week so far.

I’ve been sent a thermal camera to try out for wildlife watching (which I’m so excited about!) and I’ll be testing it over the next couple of weeks.

I just had a thought — if you happen to see this, is there anything you’d especially like me to look at while I’m testing it? Any features you’d be curious about, or things you’d personally want from a thermal camera?

And if you already use a thermal camera or have tried one before, is there anything you think is important to look out for? Your advice would be much appreciated.

If anything comes to mind, pop it in the comments and I’ll try to include it. Can’t wait to see what this gadget can do — and to share it all with you!

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 19

Stef Wild

☀️ If you're in a heatwave right now, here's a little reminder...

Putting out a few bowls of water can be a simple way to support local wildlife in the heat 💧🌿

A shallow dish with pebbles helps bees and butterflies drink safely.

A bowl of water on the ground is great for hedgehogs, foxes, and other garden visitors.

A raised birdbath or dish in a safe location offers birds a refreshing sip — or even a quick bath!



🐾 Did you know? Dogs only sweat through their paws, which makes it harder for them to cool down. Pavements can get hot enough to burn sensitive pads — if it’s too warm to touch with your hand, it’s probably too hot for paws.


Thanks for reading — take care out there 💚
#ProtectWildlife #HeatwaveHelp #BeKindToAnimals #WildlifeFriendly #KeepPetsCool

10 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 22

Stef Wild

Bonfire Night Reminder: Please Check for Hedgehogs!

With Bonfire Night tomorrow, I want to remind everyone to please check your bonfire pile before lighting it. Hedgehogs often seek shelter in piles of leaves, sticks, and debris, making it easy for them to hide without us knowing. While hedgehogs can run up to 4 mph (I know, pretty fast for such a small creature!), they can easily be caught unaware by fire and won’t escape in time.

Before you light your bonfire, please move the pile to a new location and thoroughly check for any hedgehogs or other wildlife that may be taking refuge inside.

🦔 💖

1 year ago | [YT] | 13

Stef Wild

Wildlife not even safe on a nature reserve?

I’m upset and angry to see news about hunts taking place on a nature reserve managed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. From what I understand from the article, hounds and people on horseback have been seen on land owned by the trust. There are public bridleways that allow hunts to cross the land, but they have been seen elsewhere on the reserve.

Wildlife on the reserve should be safe!

I personally think that stronger action should be taken... let me know what you think. Here is a link to the article: www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news…

1 year ago | [YT] | 8

Stef Wild

Excited to hear the news about pine martens being released at Dartmoor!

Apparently 15 pine martens were released at secret locations in Dartmoor this month as part of a project to establish a population back in the area.

Pine martens are mostly found in the north of the UK, particularly Scotland. I had my first ever sighting of a pine marten from a hide in Scotland earlier this year (if you're interested, see my Scotland Diaries 4 video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkOi0... ) and they're stunning!

Pine martens prefer to live in forest/ woodland habitats and climb extremely well. They eat rodents, birds, eggs, insects, fruit and as I observed, suet!

1 year ago | [YT] | 11