about UK mammals
A healthy environment is important to all mammals, including humans so mammals serve as excellent indicators of the quality and health of our environment. If their world is disappearing or being degraded, it makes sense to investigate whether their loss has implications for us.
Sixty-six mammal species are ordinarily or seasonally found in Britain. Several of these have experienced dramatic declines in recent years. Mammals most at risk are: water voles, red squirrels, wildcats, pine martens, greater horseshoe bats, Barbastelle bats, Bechstein’s bats, bottle-nose dolphins, harbour porpoises and northern right whales.
Brown hares and hedgehogs are currently showing a long term decline. Mountain hares, field voles, harvest mice, black rats, hazel dormice, stoats, weasels and possibly common shrews are all declining too to some degree. Read more about why mammals are in trouble.
We are committed to gathering as much information as possible about our native mammals through public participation surveys, long-term monitoring and supporting sound conservation strategies.
