The Great Stag Hunt
Historically, the stag beetle has been recorded throughout much of western Europe, though in many countries it is now thought to be very rare or even extinct. As a consequence, the stag beetle is protected here in the UK.
One of the ways to ensure its survival in this country is to keep a check on whereit is found and try and maintain and increase the number of beetles.
In 1998 we launched the hugely successful Great Stag Hunt and received sightings of stag beetles from thousands of volunteers across England. We followed this up with Great Stag Hunt II in 2002 to check that their numbers had not reduced further.
More than 8,000 people joined in the hunts and reported over 14,000 stag beetle sightings. As a result, we have been able to draw an accurate map of where they are and learn a lot more about them.
How have they been doing in the meantime? It has taken up to seven years for this years beetles to become fully-.edged, emerge from the ground and look for a mate in their turn. Most of them will not survive beyond the autumn.
We need your help to find out where the beetles are once again. Please keep an eye open for this spectacular creature throughout the coming summer and let us know about your sightings by taking part in our survey.
Please look particularly in woodlands and in the countryside, places from where in the past we have received only a few records. Is this because there really are fewer beetles in these habitats or because there are simply fewer people to report them? You are likely to see them in towns and dead on roads but, wherever you live, the most likely place for a sighting is your own garden!
Please encourage others to join in, too. You´ll not only be helping stag beetles, but hundreds of other invertebrates as well.
