Staycationers asked to record roadkill via free app, to help conserve Britain’s mammals
Volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales are being asked to record any sightings of roadkill that they see on Britain’s roads via a free app, to help conservation.
The Mammals on Roads app is part of wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species’ (PTES) annual survey, which starts this August. PTES hopes that as the number of staycations to visit Britain’s coastline, lakes and peaks increase, more people will be able to take part this year.
Now, PTES is asking families, groups of friends and couples travelling on Britain’s roads to download the app and record any sightings of mammals they spot from their car or campervan. The data collected will help conservationists to identify population trends, and importantly, which mammal species are most in need of help and where conservation action is needed.
David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator at PTES says: “Nobody likes seeing roadkill, but counting casualties can help conservation. Many of our native mammals are declining in number. We need all the help we can get to find out which species are at risk and try to turn their fate around.”
“Mammals on Roads is one of the few countryside-based wildlife surveys, and it couldn’t be easier to take part. If you have a smartphone, and are travelling as a passenger, we hope you’ll record sightings across the country on trips to different parts of Britain this summer.”
The Mammals on Roads app is free and easy to use. It boasts colourful illustrations of each mammal and has audio descriptions to help guide anyone who’s not sure what they’ve seen. So whether you see an easily recognisable hedgehog, fox or badger, or a trickier-to-spot stoat or weasel, anyone can take part. Mammals on Roads has been running since 2001 and, along with other long-running surveys led by PTES, its data has helped identify the decline in native hedgehogs. Thanks to the many volunteers who take part each year, PTES is building a nationwide picture of how mammal numbers are changing, which is crucial to ensure their long-time survival.
To take part, simply search for Mammals on Roads on the App Store or Google Play. And, if you’re on social media, help PTES spread the word by using #MammalsOnRoads.
– ENDS –
For high-res images, interview requests or further information, please contact Adela Cragg:
T: 07532 685 614
E: adelacraggPR@outlook.com
Notes to Editors
Available for interview:
- David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator, PTES
- Jill Nelson, CEO, PTES
About PTES
- PTES, a UK conservation charity created in 1977, is ensuring a future for endangered species throughout the world. We protect some of our most threatened wildlife species and habitats, and provide practical conservation support through research, grant-aid, educational programmes, wildlife surveys, publications and public events.
- PTES’ current priority species and habitats include hazel dormice, hedgehogs, water voles, noble chafers, stag beetles, traditional orchards, native woodlands, wood pasture and parkland and hedgerows.
- PTES has Species Champions for three of its priority species: for hedgehogs The Rt Hon Chris Grayling, MP for Epsom & Ewell, for water voles The Rt Hon Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central and Chair of the Brexit Select Committee, and for dormice The Rt Hon Matt Hancock, MP for West Suffolk and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
- Visit www.ptes.org and follow PTES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube & LinkedIn.