GOLFERS may hate it, but new research conducted in the region has revealed that shrews like nothing better than landing in the rough.

Dr Alex Lewis, a biologist at the University of York's environment department, spent a year studying the way small mammals react to obstacles placed in their habitats.

She examined common and pygmy shrews living on Fulford Golf Course, in Heslington, York, and her findings highlight wider problems faced by animals whose habitats are used by Man for development.

According to her research, the areas of rough designed as obstacles for golfers make excellent habitats for the animals whereas they dislike the open smooth fairways, where they lack the cover to protect them from predators, such as birds.

During a year's trapping, she discovered that only eight per cent of the common shrews and 37 per cent of pygmy shrews ventured across the fairways from one patch of rough to another.

Dr Lewis concluded that both species regarded the fairways as unwelcome intrusions into their world.

Her findings have been reported in the specialist journal British Wildlife by North Yorkshire naturalist and senior Mammal Society member Gordon Woodroffe, who has connections with the Environment Department at the university.

Pointing out that other small mammals such as field voles and common dormouse are similarly sensitive to obstacles, he suggested that Dr Lewis' research had wider significance.

He said: "Habitat fragmentation can have dire consequences for mammal conservation because it isolates populations.

"Predation pressures can also become more pronounced following loss of optimum habitat, thereby leading to local extinctions.