It’s that time of year when shadows lengthen, owls hoot a little louder, and every rustle in the leaves feels like something watching you... 👀 But in the LettsSafari rewilding parks, the creatures that might look spooky under moonlight are actually nature’s unsung heroes. This Halloween, meet five “creatures of the night” who keep our ecosystems alive - even if they look like they’ve flown straight out of a gothic novel.
🦇 The Grey Long-Eared Bat – The True Midnight Flyer
With paper-thin wings and an uncanny ability to vanish into the dusk, the grey long-eared bat might just be Britain’s most misunderstood night stalker. But don’t worry - it’s not after you! It’s out there vacuuming up midges and moths by the hundreds, acting as nature’s pest control service. Think of it as a tiny, furry superhero with sonar instead of a cape.
🦌 The Black Fallow Deer – The Forest Phantom
Step into the woods at dusk and you might glimpse a dark shape gliding between the trees: the black fallow deer. Elegant yet ghostly, this striking stag looks like it’s stepped out of a fairytale forest. But rather than haunting the land, it’s helping to shape it: browsing on shrubs, keeping the woodland open and helping wildflowers thrive. A gentle giant, even if it does look like a Halloween spirit come to life!
🦙 The Silhouetted Alpaca – The Dawn Watcher
There’s something almost otherworldly about an alpaca standing tall in the mist. With its long neck and curious gaze, it could easily pass as a creature from folklore, or maybe the world’s fluffiest vampire! But fear not, these woolly grazers are more likely to hum softly than howl. Their gentle nibbling helps keep grasslands in check and encourages a rich patchwork of wild plants to grow.
🐏 The Soay Ram – The Horned Guardian
With those twisting horns and steady, golden eyes, the Soay ram might look like a creature guarding the gates of the underworld. In truth, it’s one of the oldest and hardiest sheep breeds in the world - a living link to Britain’s ancient past. Their grazing keeps the land open and biodiverse, ensuring our rewilding parks stay a haven for butterflies, birds and bees. Spooky? Maybe. Sacred? Definitely.
🐑 The Badger-Faced Boys – The Playful Tricksters
Meet our mischievous duo: two black badger-faced rams who look ready to cause a bit of Halloween mayhem. Don’t be fooled by their dark wool and devilish horns - they’re just play-fighting! These tricksters are vital to our ecosystem, too, keeping grasslands healthy through their natural foraging and fertilising. Nature’s own pranksters, with attitude (and impeccable curls).
🕯️ This Halloween, remember: the wild isn’t scary - it’s spectacular! Every bat, deer and horned hero plays a role in keeping our planet thriving. Rewilding helps them, and us, find balance again.