Not only humans have suffered from the sweltering temperatures of recent weeks. Wildlife including hedgehogs, hares, bats and badgers may well be struggling with the harsh conditions this summer, according to a wildlife charity.
However, the impact of climate change on wildlife numbers is poorly understood, says the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). This August it’s calling on people to take part in wildlife surveys both in their yards and on the go during the summer holidays, as well as offering some practical ways to help a variety of species.
“Recording wildlife day-to-day and year-to-year is key to conservation,” says David Wembridge, coordinator of mammal surveys for PTES. “Without that knowledge, we don’t know what’s going on and we can’t act to save wildlife.”
PTES is looking for volunteers across the UK to take part in its two annual wildlife surveys: Living with Mammals (ptes.org/lwm) and Mammals on Roads (ptes.org/get-involved/surveys/road) which starts on August 1. and works throughout the year.
For Living with Mammals, volunteers are asked to record sightings of any wild mammal (or the signs they leave behind, such as tracks or droppings) in a local garden or green space, such as a park or allotment, by submitting weekly logs on line.
PTES also wants records from further afield to monitor wildlife in our field, as that is where some of the biggest declines are being seen. With this in mind, people are being asked to take part in the charity’s Mammals on Roads survey, by downloading the free app of the same name and recording any road trips and roadkill sightings along the way, either from their car, motorhome or on the way to work.
“No one likes to see roadkill, but by counting victims we can detect how populations are changing and, more importantly, where conservation action is needed. Recording the roadkill and wildlife you see in your yard allows us to better understand our wild neighbors and help protect species most in need,” explains Wembridge.
Findings from Living with Mammals form the basis of national reports such as the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022, published by PTES and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society in February, which indicated a more positive outlook for urban hedgehogs than expected. previously thought and that numbers in urban areas could be starting to recover after a decade-long decline.
Ideas like this build on long-running citizen science projects like Living with Mammals and are vital for conservation, the charity explains.
In the 20-year history of the survey, the data has also shown an increase in the number of muntjac recorded, while a decrease in the number of bats and rabbits has been noted. Fox and gray squirrel numbers have changed little.
(Alamy/PA)
“Understanding how wild populations, such as those of urban hedgehogs, are changing is very important and without the help of people recording the species around them, we cannot begin to conserve and protect the natural world,” he adds.
There are also other garden-based ways everyone can help wildlife during the rest of this summer, reports PTES.
1. Provide a shallow water dish, which will benefit ground-dwelling mammals like hedgehogs and foxes, but also birds, butterflies and other insects.
2. Make sure there are shaded areas to provide respite from the sun on hot days
3. Create a ‘hedgehog highway’ – a 13cm x 13cm square space (about the size of a CD case) at the base of your fence or wall, connecting your garden with your neighbour’s plot.
4. If you have a pond, make sure there is a ramp so any wildlife that enters can safely exit.
5. Create log piles for invertebrates like stag beetles.
To get involved in Living with Mammals 2022 (and find out how to identify different mammals, from martens to polecats), visit: ptes.org/lwm.
To record mammals on the go, search for Mammals on the Roads in the App Store or Google Play. For more information, visit ptes.org/mor.