Fifth of Britain’s wild mammals ‘at high risk of extinction’

Species including the wildcat and black rat may be lost within a decade while others such as deer are thriving, analysis shows

Damian Carrington Environment editor

Wed 13 Jun 2018 06.01 BST

The wildcat and mouse-eared bat are on the brink, but deer are spreading and otters bouncing back, according to a comprehensive analysis.

At least one in five wild mammals in Britain faces a high risk of extinction within a decade and overall populations are falling, according to the most comprehensive analysis to date.

Most at risk are the Scottish wildcat and the once-widespread black rat, while there is only a single male greater mouse-eared bat left. Also falling in number are hedgehogs, rabbits and water voles. However, some species have thrived since the last national analysis in 1995, including otters, no longer poisoned by pesticides, and deer, which lack a natural predator.

More than half the 58 wild land mammals known to breed in Britain are rodents or bats, and one in eight is an alien species, such as the thriving grey squirrel and mink. The most numerous species is the field vole at 60 million, followed by the mole, at 41 million. But both are easily outnumbered by people, at 64 million, and their livestock, with 44 million sheep and cattle and 181 million chickens.

Continued