-
Destructive Japanese scarab beetle gains ground in France
Sightings of Popillia japonica should be reported. It was recently seen in the Bas-Rhin, Alpes-Maritimes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
-
Recreation of a missing scene from the Bayeux Tapestry reaches halfway point
The woven work measuring 25m² is on track to meet next year’s deadline marking the millennium of William the Conqueror’s birth in Normandy
-
France wildfires: Var blaze spread stops after burning 1,800 hectares
Extreme heat and wildfire risk remain high in south
Lizards under threat - can you help?
It is feared that common wall lizards are disappearing from many communes – to the extent that one wildlife group is asking local residents to help track the scale of the problem.
The common or European wall lizard is the most common reptile in France. It prefers rocky habitats so has the potential to adapt well to urban environments where it substitutes rocks for walls. But the Société d’Histoire Naturelle d’Autun in Burgundy says almost half of communes in the area — about 900 — have reported no sightings in recent years of the thin grey or brown lizard, which can grow up to 20cm long.
To have a better idea of the animal’s spread, they are asking locals to take part in an online survey until the end of this month.
To take part, visit www.bourgogne-nature.fr and create an account on the site by clicking Connexion at the top and then créer un compte, before identifying whereany sighting occurred.
