Call for data on wild mammals during National Mammal Week
For Immediate Release
In celebration of National Mammal Week 2024, which explores Britain’s most underrepresented and forgotten mammals, conservation charity The Mammal Society has launched The Big Mammal Challenge. This 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.
1 in 4 native terrestrial mammals in the UK is threatened with local extinction (State of Nature Report 2023), and conservation efforts are hampered by the fact that mammals are among the most under-recorded wildlife in the country.
Mammal Society CEO, Matt Larsen-Daw, states:
“Mammals include some of our most iconic and best-loved wildlife – often celebrated in art, children’s books and fashion. However few people encounter such species on a daily basis. Elusive, often nocturnal and generally underground or undercover, mammals can be invisible into people, but they play a vital role in healthy and balanced ecosystems. We need people in all areas of the UK – rural or urban – to get to know their mammalian neighbours. Being good neighbours means looking out for each other, and conservation organisations like the Mammal Society need data on the location, abundance and behaviour of mammals to be able to identify and address issues that threaten UK nature. This National Mammal Week, become a mammal recorder and have fun getting to know your wild neighbours!”
Families, schools, local nature groups and individual nature lovers of all ages are encouraged to sign up for the Big Mammal Challenge and take as many actions to identify and record mammals as possible in their garden or local greenspace.
Participants can take any or all of the following actions, supported by clear guidance from the Mammal Society:
Make a DIY ‘Footprint Tunnel’ to check for visiting hedgehogs or small mammals
Set a camera trap to discover nocturnal visitors
Walk a ‘mammal mile’ (or as far as you feel able) around the local area looking for mammals and signs of their presence
In all cases, participants are asked to submit records of the mammals they detect on the free Mammal Mapper app, created by the Mammal Society and available for Android and Apple devices.
The Mammal Society hopes to get 1000 new sites across the UK surveyed for mammals through National Mammal Week. Even a tiny garden, yard or back alley can reveal the mammals present in the wider area.
Mammals that people may record include foxes, hedgehogs, field voles, pygmy shrews, wood mice, stoats and weasels.
From 27th April, overlapping with the weekend of National Mammal Week, people in cities around the UK and globally will be taking part in the City Nature Challenge, recording all types of local wildlife. Mammals are often overlooked in favour of plants, insects and birds that are clearly visible in daylight hours. Through this focus on mammal monitoring techniques in National Mammal Week, the Mammal Society hopes to change that this year!
Big Mammal Challenge: www.mammalsociety.org.uk/big-mammal-challenge
Images
Assets can be taken from here and used (credited) in print or online:
Winning and highly commended photos from this year’s Mammal Photographer of the Year competition are available for use to accompany articles about Big Mammal Week, alongside full released photos of footprint tunnels being made by a family in their garden.
Contact media@themammalsociety.org to arrange.
Guides for creating footprint tunnels and setting camera traps can also be provided for reproduction in print or online.
About the Mammal Society
Established in 1954, the Mammal Society is Britain’s leading charity devoted to the science-led conservation of mammals. They work to raise awareness of the issues mammals face, sharing scientific research so that populations can be protected and restored across the British Isles and Ireland. Ensuring a bright future for British mammals, the Mammal Society inspire conservation projects, empower stakeholders through training and resources, and raise public awareness through education and campaigns.
2024 is the Mammal Society’s 70th Anniversary year.
About National Mammal Week 2024
National Mammal Week is organised by the Mammal Society as a celebration of Britain’s mammals and an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges they face. One in four UK mammals are threatened with extinction, with many others in decline. The British Isles and Ireland are home to many species of mammal, from the tiny pygmy shrew to the giant fin whale. And yet, mammals are some of the most under-recorded species in Britain. From April 22nd to 28th, wildlife enthusiasts, conservationists, and nature lovers come together to honour these remarkable creatures and raise awareness about their conservation. Through a series of engaging events, educational activities, and community initiatives, National Mammal Week offers a unique opportunity to learn about the importance of mammalian biodiversity and the urgent need to protect it. Whether you're exploring local habitats, attending informative workshops, or participating in citizen science projects, there's something for everyone to enjoy during this inspiring week-long celebration. Join the movement and be a part of efforts to ensure a bright future for mammals everywhere!
To find out more visit: http://www.mammalsociety.org.uk/national-mammal-week
Contact
Alana Scott
Communications Officer
media@themammalsociety.org