Results

The results from all the Tracking Mammals Partnership (TMP) Surveillance Schemes are summarised here and will be updated annually.

The TMP is currently reporting annual trends for 35 terrestrial mammals, 54% of our land mammal fauna. Sixteen species, 46%, have increasing populations, and 11 species, 31%, have stable populations. Six species, 17%, are declining, and for two species the trends are unclear. Unfortunately, four of the increasing species - common rat, grey squirrel, sika deer and muntjac - are non-natives that cause problems for our native fauna.

The TMP does not, at present, provide any information on seals or cetaceans.

Historic information

Long term trend information is largely based on expert judgement or surveys of limited duration and suggests that 23% of terrestrial mammal species were increasing or possibly increasing, 2% were stable, 55% were declining or possibly declining, and 20% were unknown, or with insufficient data to make a judgement. More detail on historic trends can be obtained from the JNCC publication A Review of British Mammals.

Current information

Current trends for mammals cover the most recent ten year period for which data are available and are provided in a summary table. The table covers all UK resident species and provides some recommendations for species that have no current surveillance. More detailed information on each species can be found in the annual reports of the individual schemes in the surveillance and monitoring programme and in the TMP First Report on species status and population trends for UK mammals (published in 2005), which also contains information on historic trends. All reports are available in downloadable format in the reports section of the website.

Table 1 - Mammal surveillance results to 2006

Species name		25-year trend (% decline)	10-year trend (% decline)	Population estimate	IUCN status	Comments
Insectivora (small mammals, hedgehogs and moles)
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus	Native	Decline (-45)	Decline (-27)	1,555,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Decline in last 25 years which has continued over last 10 years.
Mole Talpa europaea	Native	Unsure	Increase	31,000,000 (extrapolation from densities) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Increase recorded in last ten years.
Water shrew Neomys fodiens	Native	not known	Decline	1,900,000 (extrapolation from densities) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Water shrew was previously covered by a single species survey, but that has not been continued due to lack of funding. Same as common shrew.
Common shrew Sorex araneus	Native	not known	not known	41,700,000 (extrapolation from densities) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Establish long-term trends in abundance across a range of habitats. A scoping study and a 2 year pilot study have been completed, with attention given to the value of pellet analysis, field signs and the use of hair tubes, assessing the number of sites/tubes required for statistical analysis.
Pygmy shrew Sorex minutus	Native	not known	not known	8,600,000 (extrapolation from densities) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Same as common shrew.
French shrew Sorex coronatus	Non native	not known	not known	unknown	LC (1994)	Same as common shrew.
Greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula	Non native	not known	not known	unknown	LC (2001)	Same as common shrew.
Lesser white-toothed shrew Crocidura suaveolens	Non native	not known	not known	99,000 (extrapolation from densities) Last estimate in: 1997 ^[14]	LC (1994)	Same as common shrew.
*Chiroptera* (bats)
Greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable/Increase (51)	6,600 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 2005 ^[6]	NT (1994)	Increasing populations over last seven years in Colony Counts. Hibernation Survey indicates stable populations. Short term trend and caution required in interpreting information.
Lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros	Native	Decline (% not known)	Increase (42)	8,000 Last estimate in: 2002 ^[16]	LC (2001)	Increasing populations over last seven years in both Colony Counts and Hibernation Survey.
Whiskered bat Myotis mystacinus	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable (20)	64,000 Last estimate in: 1995 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[6] [12]	LC (1994)	No significant change in last seven years, although apparent 20% increase in the index.
Brandt's bat Myotis brandtii	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable (20)	30,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	No significant change in last seven years, although apparent 20% increase in the index.
Natterer's bat Myotis nattereri	Native	Decline (% not known)	Increase (64)	148,000 Last estimate in: 1995 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[6] [12]	LC (1994)	Increasing populations in last seven years from hibernation survey. Colony Counts indicate stable populations.
Bechstein's bat Myotis bechsteinii	Native	not known	Decline	1,500 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	VU A2c (1994)	Research into locating roosts and assessing species distribution underway. Surveillance methods being developed.
Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii	Native	Decline (% not known)	Increase (17)	560,000 Last estimate in: 1995 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[6] [12]	LC (1994)	Increasing populations over last seven years in Field Survey. Hibernation Survey indicates 24% increase in the index, but this is not significant.
Serotine Eptesicus serotinus	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable (28)	15,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	No significant change over last seven years, although apparent 28% increase in the index.
Noctule Nyctalus noctula	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable (-8)	50,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	No significant change over last seven years from Field Survey.
Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri	Native	not known	Decline	28,000 Last estimate in: 1995 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[6] [12]	NT (1994)	Pilot survey being planned in Northern Ireland.
Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus	Native	Decline (% not known)	Increase (55)	2,430,000 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 2005 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[1] [12]	LC (2001)	Increasing populations over last seven years in Field Survey. Colony counts indicate significant decline of 36%, but field survey most robust result because of behaviour of the species.
Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable/Decline (-10 to -29)	1,300,000 Last estimate in: 2005 ^[1]	n/a	Stable or declining populations. Decline in index of 29% in Colony Counts. However, the Field Survey indicates stable populations and this is considered more robust.
Nathusius' pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii	Native	not known	Decline	16,000 Last estimate in: 2005 (GB) 1999 (NI)	LC (1994)	Potential to add to field surveys if broad band detectors used.
Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus	Native	not known	Decline	5,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	VU A2c (1994)	Survey methods developed by NBMP and pilot survey of woodland bats carried out with promising results.
Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus	Native	Decline (% not known)	Stable (6)	245,000 Last estimate in: 1995 (GB) 1999 (NI) ^[6] [12]	LC (1994)	Stable populations over last seven years.
Grey long-eared bat Plecotus austriacus	Native	not known	Decline	1,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Collation of existing and new records.
*Lagomorpha* (rabbits and hares)
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus	Non Native	Increase (161)	Decline (-29 to -34)	37,000,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	A long- term increase over 25 years, but with significant declines recorded in last 10 years.
Brown hare Lepus europaeus	Non Native	Increase since 1980s (32)	Increase/Decline (22 to -11)	800,000 (estimate) Last estimate in: 1996 ^[7]	LC (1994)	Unclear trend. A significant long-term decline has been reversed in the last 25 years and has become a significant increase in the last 10 years according to NGC. BBS shows significant decline over last 10 years.
Mountain hare Lepus timidus	Native	Stable/Cycling (40)	Decline (-22 to -33)	360,000 Last estimate in: 2002 ^[10]	LC (1994)	No long-term significant changes detected in this species in NGC, due to cycling populations . However, 10 year trend shows significant decline in BBS.
Irish hare Lepus timidus hibernicus	Native	Decline	Stable	43,700 Last estimate in: 2005 ^[15]	n/a	Trends measured since 2002 so very short-term. Indicate stable but fluctuating populations.
*Rodentia* (voles, mice, squirrels and dormouse)
Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris	Native	not known	Decline	161,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	NT (2001)	Information on long-term decline from distribution records and local surveys. Indications are that species is still declining because of increase in distribution and abundance of grey squirrel and spread of squirrel pox virus. Two year pilot study underway to assess surveillance and monitoring methods and make recommendations for setting up a surveillance scheme. Will report in 2007.
Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis	Non Native	Increase (100)	Increase (36)	2,520,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Long-term increase over last 25 years, with a more rapid increase in last 10 years.
Bank vole Myodes glareolus	Native	not known	not known	23,000,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Same as common shrew with the addition of live-trapping as a potential method.
Field vole Microtus agrestis	Native	not known	Decline	75,000,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Same as bank vole.
Orkney vole Microtus arvalis orcadensis	Non native	not known	Decline	4,000,000 Last estimate in: 1992 ^[11]	n/a	Same as bank vole.
Guernsey vole Microtus arvalis sarnius	Native	not known	Decline	unknown	n/a	Same as bank vole.
Skomer vole Myodes glareolus skomerensis	Native	not known	not known	7,000 Last estimate in: 1992 ^[6]	n/a	Same as bank vole.
Water vole Arvicola terrestris	Native	Decline	Decline	unknown	LC (1994)	Long term decline has continued in last ten years. Percentage change not known at present.
Wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus	Native	not known	stable	114,000,000 estimate Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (2001)	Same as bank vole.
Yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis	Native	not known	Decline	5,000,000 estimate Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Same as bank vole.
Harvest mouse Micromys minutus	Non native	not known	Decline	1,500,000 (estimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	NT (1994)	Harvest mouse showing indications of decline in two surveys. Same as bank vole for potential methods.
House mouse Mus domesticus	Non Native	Decline/ Stable	Stable	5,000,000 (estimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Stable populations in England indicated by the English House Condition Survey results.
Common rat Rattus norvegicus	Non Native	Increase (80)	Increase (91)	6,790,000 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	A long-term increase over last 25 years and continuing more rapidly over last 10 years.
Ship rat Rattus rattus	Non native	not known	Decline	unknown	LC (1994)	Declining or extinct following eradication programme. Collect records of any sightings.
Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius	Native	Decline (% not known)	Decline (-23)	45,000 Last estimate in: 2005 ^[1]	NT (1994)	Indications of a continued decline.
Fat dormouse Glis glis	Non native	not known	Increase	10,000 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	NT (1994)	Probably increasing distribution and abundance. Surveillance required to assess potential for population increase and spread.
*Carnivora* (foxes, mustelids and cats)
Fox Vulpes vulpes	Native	Increase (74)	Stable/Decline (4.3 to -55)	225,000 (in rural areas; in urban areas: 33,000) Last estimate in: 2004 (rural) 1995 (urban) ^{[6] [18]}	LC (2001)	Unclear trend. A long-term increase over last 25 years has stabilised over last 10 years according to NGC, but become significant decline according to BBS.
Pine marten Martes martes	Native	not known	Decline	3,500 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 2004 ^[2]	LC (1994)	Single species surveillance required.
Stoat Mustela erminea	Native	Increase (36)	Increase (22)	462,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	A long-term increase has continued over last 10 years.
Feral ferret Mustela furo	Non Native	not known	not known	unknown	n/a	Some data on distribution collected in the VWT Polecat and Mink Abundance monitoring.
Weasel Mustela nivalis	Native	Stable (14)	Increase (36)	450,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	Long-term trend suggests stable populations with increasing trend in last 10 years.
Polecat Mustela putorius	Native	Stable (-13)	Stable (3)	63,240 Last estimate in: 2004 ^[2]	LC (1994)	Historic decline seemsto have halted over the last 25 years. There are indications of increasing distribution and populations across England.
Amercian Mink Mustela vison	Non Native	Decline (-42)	Decline (-31)	110,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Historic increases have changed to declines over the last 25 years that have continued over the last 10 years.
Badger Meles meles	Native	Increase	Increase	250,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	A significant increase in last ten years. Percentage change not available because of data analysis method.
Otter Lutra lutra	Native	Decline then Increase since 1980s	Increase/stable	10,395 (underestimate) Last estimate in: 2004 ^{[4] [8] [13]}	NT (2001)	The National Otter Surveys have registered an increase since 1980s. Annual monitoring indicates stable populations in last ten years.
Wildcat Felis silvestris	Native	not known	Decline	unknown Last estimate in: 2004 ^[9]	LC (2001)	Indications species in severe decline and under threat from hybridisation with feral cats. Single species surveillance required to assess threats..
Feral/domestic cat Felis catus	Non Native	Decline (-32) -22 in NGC 2007-8	Stable (-13)	unknown	n/a	A decline over last 25 years, but no significant change over last 10 years.
*Artiodactyla* (deer, boar, feral sheep and feral goats)
Wild Boar Sus scrofa	Native (re-introduced)	not known	not known	unknown	LC (1994)	Indications of spreading populations particularly in the south-east of England. Added to the list of National Gamebag Census species in 2004.
Red deer Cervus elaphus	Native	Increase (60)	Stable (11)	330,000-360,000 Last estimate in: 1995-1998 ^[5]	LC (1994)	A long-term increase over last 25 years, but with stable populations over the last 10 years.
Sika deer Cervus nippon	Non Native	Increase (92)	Increase (33)	11,500 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Long-term increase in last 20 years (25 year trends not available). Ten year trend indicates continued increase.
Fallow deer Dama dama	Non Native	Increase (131)	Increase (37)	100,000 (estimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Long term increasing populations that have continued over last 10 years.
Roe deer Capreolus capreolus	Native	Increase (103)	Increase (23 to 30)	500,000 (estimate) Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	LC (1994)	A long-term increase over last 25 years, with continued increase in last 10 years.
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi	Non Native	Increase (1268)	Increase (128)	52,000 Last estimate in: 1995 ^[6]	n/a	Long-term increase over last 25 years, with continued increase in last 10 years.
Chinese Water Deer Hydropotes inermis	Non native	not known	Increase	1,500 (in the wild) Last estimate in: 2005 ^[17]	n/a	Not covered by any surveillance at present, other than the Great British Deer Survey.
Feral goat Capra hircus	Non native	not known	not known	5,000-10,000 (GB and Ireland) Last estimate in: 1990-1999 ^[5]	n/a	Regular local surveys required to assess size of known populations.
Feral sheep Ovis aries	Non native	not known	not known	unknown	n/a	.
*Diprotodontia* (wallabies)
Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus	Non native	not known	not known	unknown	n/a	Regular local surveys required to assess size of known populations.

Trend information from: National Gamebag Census (NGC) report 2008, run by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust with additional funding from JNCC; The State of UK's Bats, 2008, with data from the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP), run by the Bat Conservation Trust/JNCC Partnership; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) Mammal Data report 2008. BBS run by BTO/JNCC/RSPB Partnership; and National Dormouse Montoring Programme run by PTES/Natural England Partnership. All reports available to download from TMP website.

Sources

[1]	BATTERSBY, J (Ed.) & Tracking Mammals Partnership 2005. UK Mammals: Species Status and Population Trends. JNCC/Tracking Mammals Partnership.
[2]	BIRKS, J.D.S. 2004. Unpublished data.
[3]	BULLOCK, D.J. 1995. The feral goat - conservation and management. British Wildlife, 6, 152-159.
[4]	CRAWFORD, A. 2003. Fourth Otter Survey of England 2000–2002. Environment Agency, Bristol. Available to download from the Environment Agency website
[5]	HARRIS, S. and YALDEN, D.W. (Eds) 2008. Mammals of the British Isles handbook (4th edition).The Mammal Society, Southampton
[6]	HARRIS, S., MORRIS, P., WRAY, S. & YALDEN, D. 1995. A review of British Mammals: population estimates and conservation status of British mammals other than cetaceans. JNCC, Peterborough.
[7]	HUTCHINGS, M.R. and HARRIS, S. 1996. The current status of the brown hare (Lepus europaeus) in Britain. JNCC, Peterborough.
[8]	JONES, T. & JONES, D. 2004. Otter Survey of Wales 2002. Environment Agency, Bristol. Available to download from the Environment Agency website
[9]	MACDONALD, D.W., DANIELS, M.J., DRISCOLL, C., KITCHENER, A. and YAMAGUCHI, N. 2004. The Scottish Wildcat, Analyses for Conservation and an Action Plan. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford.
[10]	Mallon, D., Wheeler, P., Whitely, D. & Yalden, D.W. (2003) Mountain Hares in the Peak District. British Wildlife, 15, 110-116.
[11]	REYNOLDS, J.C. 1992. The impacts of changes in land use in Orkney on the vole Microtus arvalis and its avian predators. PhD thesis, University of Aberdeen.
[12]	RUSS, J.M. 1999. The Microchiroptera of Northern Ireland: community composition, habitat associations and ultrasound. Unpublished PhD thesis. Queen’s University, Belfast.
[13]	STRACHAN, R. 2007. National survey of otter Lutra lutra distribution in Scotland 2003-04. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 211 (ROAME No. F02AC309).
[14]	TEMPLE, R. & MORRIS, P. 1997. The lesser white-toothed shrew on the Isles of Scilly. British Wildlife, 9, 94-99.
[15]	TOSH, D., MARQUES, A.T., BROWN, S., PRESTON, J., REID, N., MONTGOMERY, I., BORCHERS, D. L., BUCKLAND, S. T., & MCDONALD, R. 2005. Northern Ireland Irish Hare Survey 2005. Environment & Heritage Service, Northern Ireland/Queen’s University, Belfast.
[16]	UK BAP reporting 2002
[17]	WARD, A. 2005. New population estimates for British mammals. Deer, 13, 8.
[18]	WEBBON C.C., BAKER, P.J. and HARRIS, S. 2004. Faecal density counts for monitoring changes in red fox numbers in rural Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology 2004, 41, 768–779