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Call for citizen scientists to help record mammal activity in the UK

Researchers are monitoring how climate change will impact animal distribution and behaviour.

Fallow deer are among the non-native species which have been photographed in the survey (Brian Lawless/PA)

By Nilima Marshall, PA Science Reporter

October 11 2022 11:01 PM

Members of the public are being urged to help scientists track and record mammal activity in the UK to better understand how animals are coping with climate change.

Experts are looking for citizen scientists to help identify the the animals in the videos and images uploaded in the MammalWeb database that were taken by camera traps across the country.

The insight will help provide a more comprehensive record of UK mammal activity and support future research and conservation efforts, scientists at Durham University said.

Professor Phil Stephens, from the department of biosciences at Durham University, said: “Now, more than ever, it’s vitally important that we build a comprehensive picture of the UK’s mammal populations.

Red squirrel and grey squirrel face off at a feeder (Roland Ascroft/MammalWeb/Durham University)

“We need to build a greater understanding of how climate change and events such as the droughts we experienced in the UK this summer will impact upon mammal distribution and behaviour.”

Durham University scientists founded the MammalWeb network in 2013 with aim to build a picture of mammal habits and behaviours across the country.

So far, camera traps have captured 440,000 image sequences and videos, with more than 180,000 mammal detections.

Rare captures have included both North and South American members of the raccoon family, which the researchers said, are “highly adaptable animals with the potential to cause trouble for native wildlife”.

Stoat in winter coat (Scottish Wildcat Action/MammalWeb/Durham University)

Other originally non-native UK species include the muntjac deer, fallow deer, grey squirrels, brown hares and rabbits.

Native UK species caught on film include red squirrels, badgers, otters, foxes, stoats, wild boar and pine marten.

The latest findings from the MammalWeb project have been published in the journal Ecological Solutions and Evidence.

At present, the database collects data from more than 2,500 sites across the UK but the scientists are also looking for volunteers who can set up their own camera traps and upload pictures of wildlife.

Lead author Dr Pen-Yuan Hsing, at The University of Bristol, said: “Bringing together this information in one place helps us to build a bigger, more coherent dataset charting the UK’s mammal populations and activities.

“By getting involved, people can really make a difference to understanding and protecting the future of these amazing animals, which are integral to the biodiversity that we all intimately depend on.”