The canal environment is a perfect refuge for many species of animals, mammals, birds, fish, and insects.
Water voles used to be a common inhabitant of Milton Keynes canals but sadly there are none left here now, mainly due to persecution by mink and habitat destruction. In fact, their numbers are gradually declining over the rest of the country and there is a real danger that they will be extinct within the next ten years.
Bats are attracted to the canal environment due to the variety of insects it offers. As an active conservation effort, where maintenance to the canal bridges has been necessary, bat bricks (bricks with holes) have been put in to replace the original bricks. This is done to encourage bats to live in these cavities.
Common species of fish which are found in the canal include; Carp (these can be up to 40lb in weight), pike, perch, roach, bream and sturgeon. Eels are also found in the canal.
The more common species of birds include; swans, ducks, moorhens and coots.
The canal also attracts herons as well as kingfishers. There are currently two pairs of breeding Kingfishers along the Milton Keynes stretch of the canal.
In fact presently there is a small population of the rare white-legged damselflies near to the Iron Trunk Aqueduct.
Foxes, rabbits, squirrels, muntjac deer and badgers are amongst the many other creatures which inhabit the parklands around the canal.
