Main Menu

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Basket Search

Donate

PTES News Basket Search

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our internship projects // Can we identify individual small mammals from their footprints?

Can we identify individual small mammals from their footprints?

Footprint tracking

Footprints are a really valuable way to monitor animals and their activity. They can help us identify and map where different species are found across diverse landscapes. Using footprints is beneficial because it’s non-intrusive, as well as an effective method for surveying animals.

Dormouse footprint tunnel in situ (left) credit Ellie Scopes. Dormice feet (right) credit Ian White.

Recent advances in technology have revolutionised our ability to analyse large volumes of footprint images more accurately than ever. The WildTrack team, based in North Carolina in the United States, is harnessing these advances through their innovative Footprint Identification Technology (FIT). Using artificial intelligence, FIT can be used to identify large mammal species from their footprints in the wild. It’s even sophisticated enough to identify individual animals based solely on their footprints.

The software uses specific markers provided by researchers to calculate identification metrics. With impressive speed and precision, FIT surpasses the knowledge of specialised tracking experts, offering a powerful tool for species-level and individual-level identification. Notably, FIT has already been successfully used to identify individual cheetahs and rhinos. PTES is working with WildTrack to support intern Ellie Smart who is exploring whether FIT can be trained to identify small mammal species too.

The project

In the UK, footprint tunnels are commonly used to see if certain species are present in an area or not. Ellie will take the method a step further, following the example set by WildTrack for large mammals. Ellie will investigate if footprints can be used to identify individuals. She’ll focus on two protected and threatened species: hazel dormice and European hedgehogs. Footprint tracking tunnels are already used to see if hedgehogs and dormice are living in an area. If Ellie can distinguish individuals by their footprints, we’ll have a way of knowing how many animals are in an area, without intensive trapping and monitoring.

Footprints are collected using paper and ink, in the form of charcoal and vegetable oil, which are placed in tunnels to protect them from the elements. Photo credits Ellie Scopes.

Ellie will collect footprints for this project from known captive individuals, such as those in rescue centres or zoos. Working with these animals, she can easily mark which prints come from females and males, and by which individual. Traditional footprint tunnels will be used, where a safe ‘ink’ made of charcoal and vegetable oil will be painted across the tunnel entrance and exit, with a strip of white paper taped in the middle. As individuals walk across the ink and onto the paper, they’ll leave distinct, clear prints. While we know we can identify hazel dormice and hedgehogs through visual analysis of footprints, Ellie will investigate whether individual identification is feasible by training the FIT software developed by the WildTrack team.

If successful, Ellie hopes that the software can be applied to future research and conservation projects involving unknown species and individuals. The data gathered may contribute to the development of an app that enables people to learn more about small mammals in their local area by simply scanning footprints.

This project is only possible thanks to our generous donors. Can you help by donating today?

Donate

Header image credit Matt Parkins