Mammals survey results

17 September 2008

Thank you to everyone who has entered their results online. I hope you enjoy looking at the results on the graphs and maps. Look on the Surveys page to see how many mammals were found near where you live.

Rabbits

The largest number of mammals seen throughout the survey were rabbits, with 349 seen across the UK and a whopping 292 in England. The highest number were seen in Eastern England and Yorkshire and Humber. They are familiar in the countryside, particularly as they are active during the day. You mainly see them in large groups at field edges near to their burrows or in open grassland.

Foxes

There were a high number of foxes recorded. Wildsquare participants together saw 236 foxes in England, 44 in Scotland and 8 in Wales. Foxes are now quite familiar in towns and also in the countryside. They can be heard during the evening calling to each other with a very loud cry. Foxes will mark their territory with urine and faeces, which is supposed to warn off other groups of foxes.

Hedgehogs

There were very low numbers of hedgehogs recorded this year, with only 54 seen across the whole of the UK. This could be because they are mainly active at night, but the Mammals Trust say that they are declining. They are now a ‘priority species’ for conservation efforts. The decline may be due to loss of habitat.

Molehills

322 molehills were recorded across the UK, with 247 in England, 61 in Scotland and 14 in Wales. Moles are rarely seen, so this is why we asked you to look for the molehills instead. Even though they are quite difficult to spot, the Mammals Trust say ‘The mole is thought to be one of the top six most common mammal species in the UK’.

Other species which were seen in high numbers were bats, squirrels and roe deer. The most elusive mammals were otters, shrews and feral cats.