The British public is being asked to keep an eye out for spectacular stag beetles this summer and record any sightings online, as part of a wildlife charity’s national Great Stag Hunt survey. 

The Great Stag Hunt, run by People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), has been running for over 25 years. Native stag beetles – with the males’ iconic antler-like jaws – have sadly become extinct in parts of in Britain and Europe, where they used to live. Data from the Great Stag Hunt, collected since 1998, is vital for conservationists to understand where stag beetles remain, where they’re no longer living and what the impact of climate change might be on populations. 

David Wembridge, Conservation Research and Strategy Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species, who runs the Great Stag Hunt said: “Stag beetles are fascinating insects, spending most of their lives - three to five years - underground before emerging as adults in search of a mate. Unfortunately, their populations are under threat due to the loss of deadwood habitats from gardens, parks, and woodlands, which are essential habitats for their life cycle.”

“In urban areas, stag beetles are vulnerable to traffic and footfall as they bask on warm tarmac surfaces. That’s why it’s so important to ensure we leave space for stag beetles and other wildlife in our towns and cities. Taking part in the Great Stag Hunt is a simple but powerful way for people to help us understand and conserve these incredible insects. We hope many people will get involved again this summer.”

Other top tips to help stag beetles

1. Retain old tree stumps and deadwood in gardens, parks and woodlands, to encourage habitat creation
2. If you see a stag beetle on a road or other tarmac surface, carefully move it into a garden border or nearby green space. They’re gentle giants, despite their appearance!
3. Cover any water butts and if you have a pond, make sure there’s an escape route
4. Mimimise use of weed matting so that stag beetles can easily emerge from the soil
5. If you live in a stag beetle hotspot, take part in the Stag Beetle Count. For this, simply walk along the same local transect for 30 minutes six times between June and July on warm, sunny evenings. For more information, visit stagbeetles.ptes.org/stag-beetle-count/

Nida Al-Fulaij, CEO at People’s Trust for Endangered Species added: “Data gathered from citizen science surveys such as the Great Stag Hunt are essential for tracking progress towards the government’s legally binding biodiversity targets outlined in the Environmental Act 2021. Understanding trends in invertebrate populations is challenging but, with the public’s help, we are able to learn more about the smaller creatures who share our world and target conservation efforts effectively.”

To find out more, visit stagbeetles.ptes.org

And, if you’re on social media, PTES would love to see your stag beetle snaps using #GreatStagHunt and tagging @PTES.