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RSPCA: The end of the tale – last call for entries to wildlife story competition

RSPCA: The end of the tale – last call for entries to wildlife story competition

Owls and foxes most written about animals

Budding young authors are being urged to pick up their pens to create their own wildlife-themed bedtime story as the deadline of a competition looms.

There is just over a week to go before the closing date for entries to Wild About Britain – a wildlife-themed children’s short story competition launched by the RSPCA.

Foxes and owls have been unveiled as firm favourites among the animal characters in the stories submitted so far. More entries have focused on a fox than any other wild animal, while the current story leading the people’s choice vote stars a loveable owl.

Dave Allen, RSPCA’s Head of Education, said: “There’s still time to get involved and for parents to take their children out exploring Britain’s autumnal wildlife. There are some really amazing creatures living in our gardens, woods and fields which are great inspiration for budding young writers wanting to create their very own wildlife character.

“It’s great to see the story about an owl doing so well in the public vote – people have such a fondness for this iconic bird. And so many children are choosing to let their imaginations loose on tales about foxes and really trying to think about what they are like and what they would do which is wonderful.

“We’ve also received some brilliant entries about brave badgers, mischievous mice and heroic hedgehogs – to name but a few.”

Inspired by classic tales such as Wind in the Willows, Peter Rabbit and Fantastic Mr Fox, Wild About Britain is aimed at 11 to 16 year-olds and hopes to encourage young people to go out into nearby woods, fields and gardens to enjoy the wild animals around them.

The competition also allows the public to vote for their favourite story. A mid-way tally of the results* can reveal that it is a story about a loveable owl that is leading the people’s choice vote. A look at the entries also shows that more stories entered in the Wild About Britain competition have starred a fox over any other wildlife animal.

The competition closes on Monday 10 December 2012 and the rules are that it must be no more than 500 words long and feature an animal or animals from British wildlife. There will be two age categories – 11 years and under and 12 to 16 year-olds and a judging panel will award a gold, silver and bronze for each category. The winner will receive a selection of books from Random House publishers and be published on the website.

For more information see www.wildaboutbritain.org.uk.

Notes to editors

  * Public votes as dated 22nd November 2012 through www.wildaboutbritain.org.uk

  Images, interviews and further owl and fox facts are available on request

  Around 50% of the 1.1million phone calls to the RSPCA’s 24 hour cruelty and advice line concern wildlife and a lot of the charity's work involves improving their welfare and ensure they are not only treated better but valued, protected and celebrated.

  As well as the short story competition, the RSPCA will be celebrating our native wildlife by launching themed timeline covers on the RSPCA_Official Facebook page and highlighting the work we do to rescue and care for our wild animals.

  For more info about RSPCA wildlife work please visit http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/wildlife

Top owl and fox facts

  The famous ‘twit-twoo’ owl call is a courtship song between a male and female.  The female’s distinctive ‘ke-wick’ contact cry is swiftly followed by a male’s territorial ‘hoot’.

  Females are generally larger than males.

  Owls’ ear openings are asymmetrical, meaning one sits higher on the head than the other.  There is an important reason for this – by ‘head bobbing’ (where the owl moves its head in a circular up and down motion), the owl is able to accurately pinpoint the location of its prey from long distances.

  Due to how well-developed an owl’s binocular vision is, an owl’s eye is mainly fixed within the eye sock so cannot be rotated – instead an owl will turn its head to see on either side.

  Owls do not build nests – they use nests of other species or tree cavaties, the ground, inside buildings, hay stacks, etc.

  Fox cubs are actually born with BLACK fur, not red.  Their fur starts to change colour to red at around 5-6 weeks old.

  At birth cubs are blind and deaf with short black fur and they rely on the vixen to keep them warm.

  It is not uncommon to see month-old cubs playing and developing survival skills above ground in the daylight. It is quite normal for them to wander in or around patches of cover above ground. Parents or close relatives are usually nearby so please don’t be tempted to ‘rescue’ them.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288  Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk  Website: www.rspca.org.uk

Once upon a time the RSPCA told the Uncomfortable Tail of Britain's
forgotten farm animal. Find out more about our Like a Duck to Water
campaign: http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/farm/ducks