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Schools’ Mammal Challenge

This initiative aims to engage students in mammal recording activities, empowering them as advocates for wildlife protection and champions of biodiversity conservation.

Red fox by Kyle Moore

Quick links

Download the Educators' Pack here.

We need your help! 

1 in 4 of our native mammals are threatened with extinction. Mammals are under-recorded which hampers conservation efforts.  You and your school can help provide vital data on mammal populations. You have access to a habitat no one else is better placed to monitor—your school ground.  

Engaging students in mammal recording activities not only enhances their scientific literacy and field skills but also instils a sense of stewardship for the environment.  By highlighting the importance of mammal conservation and the need for accurate data collection, educators can empower students to become advocates for wildlife protection and champions of biodiversity conservation. 

About the Schools’ Mammal Challenge

  • The Schools’ Mammal Challenge is our flagship education programme designed to encourage schools to discover and monitor the mammals around them.

  • Schools participating in the challenge undertake all or some of three mammal monitoring activities in order to gain insight into the wildlife in the local ecosystem, skills in wildlife surveying, and data that contributes to national conservation:

    (1) #MammalMile - conducting a survey around the grounds and/or local area to record any mammals or signs of their presence using our free Mammal Mapper app.

    (2) Camera trapping - monitoring nocturnal visitors to the schoolground with wildlife trail cameras.

    (3) Footprint tunnels - constructing footprint tunnels for mammals of all sizes and identifying mammal visitors via footprint identification.

Resources

  • Download the Educators' Pack here.

  • Watch our educator’s webinar here.

  • Read our guide to making footprint tunnels here.

    Looking for more info about mammals - check out our mammal facts database.

  • Visit our mammal youth hub - coming soon

Taking your mammal monitoring further

We are currently developing resources to help schools form their own Local Mammal Groups - if this is of interest to you please get in touch with Fiona (fiona@mammal.org.uk).

Together, let's inspire the next generation of conservationists and make a difference for mammals. For any questions or further information, please feel free to contact Fiona, Education and Training Officer, at fiona@mammal.org.uk.