This spring, leading wildlife conservation charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers across the UK – including here on the Isle of Wight – to take part in its popular annual Living with Mammals survey, in a bid to track changes in our wildlife. Volunteers are needed to record sightings of any wild mammals they see each week in their gardens, local parks or other green spaces, such as allotments and churchyards. The results enable conservationists to better understand how our environment is changing, how these changes impact wild mammal populations, which need the most help and where conservation action is needed. Any sightings of mammals (or the signs left behind, such as footprints or droppings) are recorded online. Free advice is available to help those new to wildlife surveying, with guides on how to identify different species and recognise tell-tale signs – you don’t need to be an expert! Any mammal, however commonly seen, provides useful data. Last year, almost 800 sites across the country were surveyed, with over 20 different species spotted including garden regulars such as foxes and grey squirrels and well-loved species such as hedgehogs. There were also records of rarer species too, highlighting the importance of urban areas in conservation. These included 8 records of red squirrels here on the Isle of Wight. David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator at People’s Trust for Endangered Species, says:
“With blossom on the trees, and bats and hedgehogs emerging from hibernation, spring is a wonderful time to connect with the great outdoors and get involved in conservation.” “Taking part in Living with Mammals is a really valuable, and easy, way to help conservation. Every record – whether you spot anything or not – is crucial to understanding how different populations are changing year on year, and how we can protect them. The data from Living with Mammals contribute to major reports such as the State of Nature and the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs, and without these records we wouldn’t have such an insight into how different species are faring and how to help. Therefore it’s vital that as many people can take part as possible.”
Living with Mammals 2024 runs from March until the end of the year. To take part, visit www.ptes.org/lwm and share your photos on social media using #LivingWithMammals.
At Cowes Northwood Cemetery you have red squirrels and you also get red squirrels and badgers and other life living in the woods next to the cemetery and Artic rd.Which now the owners of woods have started to cut down the trees to make way to build houses.So much for protecting the red squirrels and badgers.This is criminal what they are doing.
Wight Squirrel Project, run by founder Helen Butler, has collated red squirrel sightings for the Isle of Wight since 1991. You can enter your sighting by going to http://www.wightsquirrels.co.uk. The results are published annually and there is a very large book giving all survey over 30 years. If you are a college or university you can have a free copy as part of our charitable giving. It’s not suitable for younger students. But please support PTES as well.