What enables our cat to happily nestle down in a wet patch of grass frequently for an unlimited period of time, which would be death for the rest of us?
James Brennan, Clontarf, Dublin 3
Who knows what goes on in a cat’s head? Not all cats dislike water as it depends on their experience, some will even swim. The wet grass obviously satisfies some need.
During the summer, near Assaroe Lake, outside Ballyshannon on a sunny midday, I saw a small bat feeding around trees beside the lake. I had assumed bats operated from dusk on. What species was it likely to be?
Frank Smyth, Sutton, Dublin, 13
Bats come out in the daytime if they need food either for themselves or to feed young. Daubenton’s bat collects insects by skimming along over the surface of water but your bat could be any one of several species.
Recently we observed a red squirrel with a white tail bounding down our Scots Pine. Do red squirrels have white tails?
Nancy Cantwell, Quin, Co Clare
The tips of a red squirrel’s tail and their ears get bleached as they get older. But if the tail was totally white then it was a partially albino red squirrel.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. Email: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address