Reporting mammal sightings
Have you seen a mammal in the North East? Then we want to know. Here's how to tell us.
Nature Detective, GPNR © James Littlewood
We keep a database of all mammal sightings in the North East. This database is really important because it:
- enables us to monitor changes in size and distribution of mammal populations;
- influences decisions about land use and planning (eg helps to protect areas for mammals);
- increases our knowledge about mammals in our region.
Sightings of mammals are sent to us by members of the public, researchers, amateur naturalists and professional ecologists. The more records we have the more we can learn about our mammals. There are still parts of the North East where we have no records of some of our commoner mammals – we suspect that they are there but we simply have no reported sightings of them! Our database is held by ERIC North East based in the Great North Museum:Hancock in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
If you see a wild mammal (whether it be running out in front of you, or lying dead at the side of the road) please make a record of what species, where it was and the date and then send your sighting to us:
- Use the North East’s online wildlife recording portal at www.ericnortheast.org.uk/wildlife
- Download our recording sheet (click here to download one), fill it in and email it to northumbriamammalgroup@hotmail.co.uk
- Put your records on the Northumbria Mammal Group Facebook page
- If you come along to one of our events, just bring your mammal records with you and give them to the event leader, who will then pass them on to us.