AN APPEAL has been issued for the public to record sightings of mammals, dead or alive, whilst driving along Britain’s road network.

Wildlife charity the People’s Trust for Endangered Species has launched its annual 'Mammals on Roads' survey, which aims to spot changing trends in populations and identify where conservation action is needed most.

According to a recent report by the Mammal Society, one in five wild mammal species in Britain is at risk of extinction, but getting an idea of the size of populations and how numbers are changing remains difficult.

PTES surveys officer David Wembridge explained: “At the moment, a lot of what we know is still a ‘best guess’ and what we really need are good records of mammals and of all sorts of species, more generally. Better estimates of numbers will help us understand our wildlife and the ‘natural health’ of the nation.”

This year, the survey runs from Sunday July 1 through to Sunday September 30, and families, car-sharing commuters or anyone on Britain’s roads can take part either online or via an app on a smart phone or tablet. Alternatively, a printed survey pack can be requested by emailing the charity at mor@ptes.org.