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Mammal Discovery Challenge

Join us for the Mammal Discovery Challenge! Become a citizen scientist and contribute to gathering mammal records across the British Isles.

Let’s reconnect the wild, together.

One in four UK mammals are threatened with extinction. But there’s hope. From gardens and parks to campuses and schoolgrounds, small green spaces act as vital lifelines—helping mammals move, feed, and thrive. 

Protecting wildlife starts with good data. When we know what species are present, we can take the right steps to bring mammals back to the places they once called home. And no one is better placed to record them than the people who live, work, or study there every day.

This nationwide citizen science project aims to encourage and enable people of all ages to help address the lack of data on mammal populations in Britain by monitoring and recording the mammals visiting their gardens and local areas.

You can use a variety of easy and fun methods to record mammals, including footprint tunnels and camera traps. In all cases, participants are asked to submit records of the mammals they detect on our free Mammal Mapper app, available for Android and Apple devices.

1. Record mammals

There are a number of different ways to record mammals. In most cases, you don’t need experience or equipment! Here are some methods for recording mammals:

  1. Make a footprint tunnel (read how-to guide) or buy one.

  2. Set up a camera trap in your garden or local nature reserve.

  3. Look for tracks, signs and sightings (e.g. footprint, poo, nest), and make sure to take photos of anything you find.

Credit: Lothians and Borders Mammal Group

2. Get ID support

Do you need help identifying mammal tracks and signs? There are a number of ways you can get ID support:

  • Join the Big Mammal Challenge Facebook group

  • Watch the ‘How to Record Mammals’ webinar

Credit: Shane Stanbridge

3. Upload your findings

Once you’re sure of what you’ve found, you can share your discoveries by uploading your findings on our Mammal Mapper app. This will help us build a comprehensive database of mammal activity.

4. Share your footage (optional)

If you were lucky enough to get some interesting mammal footage on one of your camera traps, we’d love to see it. You can share camera trap footage with us by uploading it below. Make sure you read the terms and conditions below before uploading.

5. Celebrate your efforts

Complete the form below to register your participation in the Big Mammal Challenge and receive a certificate to celebrate your achievements.

Together, let's uncover the incredible diversity of mammals inhabiting our local environments and make a meaningful contribution to mammal conservation.

For any questions or further information, please feel free to contact us at info@themammalsociety.org.