A LEADING animal conservation charity is calling on Somerset residents to tot up the amount of roadkill they see while out and about.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) says recording sighting of dead mammals is important for conservation as it helps the charity monitor changing mammal populations.

It is estimated that each year one million mammals are killed on UK roads. Based of findings from previous years the PTES joined forces with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and now has thousands of 'hedgehog champions' committed to help save the creatures from further decline.

The Mammals on Roads task is quite simple, on any day up until September 30, record sightings of mammals, dead or alive, over a journey of more than 20 miles and completed in one day.

The PTES say it is the perfect way to keep children entertained on summer day trips and family holidays.

David Wembridge, surveys officer at PTES said: “No-one likes seeing roadkill, but recording it as part of a survey like Mammals on Roads tells us about wildlife more widely.

"Comparing records year to year enables us to build a picture of how a population is changing, which is key to conservation.

"Citizen science is essential to conservation—without the efforts of individuals recording the wildlife they see, we would not have the evidence of the recent decline in hedgehog numbers. If you’re going on a road trip this summer, take part in the survey, keep an eye out for mammals and get involved in conservation.”

To take part, you can download the free Mammals on Roads app from the App Store and Google Play. Alternatively, the survey can be completed via a printed survey pack. Email mor@ptes.org or call 0207 498 4533 to request a pack to be sent to you.