Wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling on volunteers across Dorset to record sightings of mammals, dead or alive, as part in its national 'Mammals on Roads' survey.
PTES is asking families going on summer holidays or day trips, car-sharing commuters and anyone else using Dorset's roads, to record sightings of mammals and submit the records via the free Mammals on Roads app.
The data collected helps conservationists to see changing population trends and most importantly, identify where conservation action is needed most and for which species.
David Wembridge, mammal surveys coordinator, said: “Mammals on Roads began over 18 years ago, and though no-one likes seeing roadkill, recording such sightings every year tells us how wild mammals are faring in the surrounding landscape.
"For example, thanks to the many volunteers who’ve submitted records over the last two decades we found out that hedgehog numbers are plummeting.
"Now, we’re doing everything we can to help this species, but we wouldn’t have known they were in trouble without volunteers helping us.”
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