Between October 2 and 4, 2026, researchers deployed more than 220 live traps and 12 wildlife cameras across the KempenBroek nature reserve to map small mammal populations. The cross-border fieldwork documented rare species including the waterspitsmuis and the gewone bosspitsmuis, which had not been previously recorded in the area.
Night Operations in the Stramprooierbroek
Operating in the dark requires driving across muddy terrain where vehicles frequently risk getting stuck. Marco Snijder of the Zoogdierbescherming noted during a nighttime excursion that field teams sometimes lose track of their marking flags in the dense wetlands. The survey utilizes over 220 Longworth life-traps alongside 12 wildlife cameras to establish a detailed monitoring network.
Fieldworkers prepared the traps days in advance by adding warm nest materials and a food supply consisting of apples, carrots, oats, wheat, and live mealworms. This baiting strategy allowed local mice and shrews to grow accustomed to the enclosures before researchers set the mechanisms on Friday evening. Teams maintained a rapid check schedule to ensure captured animals spent minimal time inside the equipment.
Discovering Rare Shrews and Voles
DNA sampling in local waters previously indicated the presence of the elusive waterspitsmuis, but recent trapping confirmed live specimens in the area. Alongside standard bank voles and wood mice, researchers recovered two waterspitsmuises, including a rare melanistic individual that lacked the species’ usual silver-grey to stark white belly in favor of solid black fur. Also caught were a dwergspitsmuis and several gewone bosspitsmuizen.
Annemarie van Diepenbeek, an expert on the subject of animal tracks, identified a distinct gap in historical records regarding the gewone bosspitsmuis. On the verspreidingskaart voor KempenBroek zag ik hier nog een witte vlek: de gewone bosspitsmuis was voor dit gebied niet eerder vastgesteld,
Van Diepenbeek stated. The team subsequently captured several specimens, effectively filling in a missing distribution record for the region.
Tracking Bats and Exotics in KempenBroek
Meanwhile, automated wildlife cameras recorded unexpected visitors including wild boar, red deer, roe deer, pine martens, and weasels. The equipment also captured footage of an exotic wallaby moving through the area. While local volunteers knew the marsupial had roamed KempenBroek for some time, the camera footage offered formal documentation.
Questions About the KempenBroek Wildlife Survey
When did the KempenBroek mammal survey take place?
The field survey took place from October 2 to October 4, 2026, involving dozens of researchers and volunteers from the Netherlands and Belgium.
Which organizations coordinated the research weekend?
The event was organized by ARK Rewilding Nederland in cooperation with the Veldwerkgroep van Zoogdierbescherming Nederland, with participation from groups including Limburgs Landschap vzw and Natuurpunt.
What unexpected mammals were detected by the monitoring equipment?
Alongside rare finds like a melanistic waterspitsmuis and the first documented gewone bosspitsmuizen for the area, remote cameras captured an exotic wallaby roaming through the cross-border wetlands.
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