Life On The Brink: 5 Of The Most Endangered Animals In Britain

Despite the acres of rolling green hills you may whizz past on the average British train journey, our habitats are in decline. We have vast expanses of land that appear natural at first glance, but much of it consists of micromanaged monocultures, where only one species of plant grows at a time. 

Along with this, our wildlife is also suffering from the harmful impacts of hunting, the introduction of invasive species, and the destruction of our ancient forests and wetlands. These are just a few reasons the UK is currently placed in the lowest 12% of global countries and territories for biodiversity intactness. 

The issue is the state of our country’s biodiversity. What’s biodiversity? Think of it as a way of summing up the overall ‘health’ of our natural world. It measures the variety of plants and animals in any given habitat. A higher level of biodiversity is extremely desirable, and every organism plays a part, from larger predators down to minute insects and microscopic bacteria. 

Extinction might seem like the exclusive domain of the dinosaurs, dodos, and obscure denizens of the rainforest, but it’s a possibility within any habitat. Take the Grey Wolf as an example: While they remain common across the rest of the world today, Grey Wolves were completely eradicated in Britain in the late 17th century. Without increasing our biodiversity, more and more of the UK’s animals may face the same fate. With this in mind, let’s examine five of the UK’s most endangered species.

Turtle Dove

We’re all familiar with the common pigeon — a creature completely inescapable, whether you’re in rural villages or urban city centres. Think of the turtle dove as a pigeon dressed in its Sunday best; its grey plumage tipped with burnt orange and bronze hues. Complete with a handsome striped collar and pink chest, this striking species has even inspired its own folk ballad.

Similar in size to a collared dove, turtle doves travel thousands of miles to spend the summer in the UK (an unlikely destination for an overseas summer holiday, but we’re not here to judge). Unfortunately, many of these fancy flyers never make it to the British Isles — they’re gunned down in huge numbers while passing through France, Spain, and Morocco. To make matters worse, many more lose their lives when hunkering down for the winter in Senegal. 

Sadly, this has led to the turtle dove’s global population numbers dwindling by a jaw-dropping 97% since 1970. Thankfully, conservation efforts are in motion (the wonderful ‘Operation Turtle Dove’ is one such example) but the species’ future still hangs in the balance. Trying to spot a turtle dove? They’re mainly found in the South and East of England, and the lowlands of Wales. They swoop over to the UK in April and stay until September, so listen out for their “turrr turrr turr” during these months. 

Turtle dove facts:

• The turtle dove is Britain’s only migratory pigeon.
• Kent and Suffolk are two of the best places to spot a turtle dove, so keep an eye out for one if you happen to be in one of these areas.
• The turtle dove is Britain’s smallest native pigeon.

Natterjack Toad

What these warty creatures lack in beauty, they more than make up for in curiosity-factor. Natterjacks have a call easily heard from over a mile away, and a penchant for ‘running’ instead of travelling in a manner more befitting of their cumbersome builds. 

With only one or two colonies remaining in the UK, these toads are now considered a threatened species. Listed as a protected amphibian in the UK’s biodiversity action plan (BAP), they were reintroduced to Wales after becoming extinct in the 20th century. In England, their habitats are limited to just a few sandy dunes, several of which fall within national nature reserves such as North Walney and Sandscale Haws. 

If natterjack toads are so successful elsewhere, why do they find life in the UK so challenging? A number of factors are responsible for their decline, from habitat destruction and deterioration, to human overpopulation, and the gradual acidification of British water due to acid rain and pollution. It’s safe to say that these tough old toads have had a rough ride here in Blighty. 

Natterjack toad facts: 

• During the daytime, they rest at their burrow entrances so that they can escape if threatened.
• Natterjack toads can secrete poison from their skin when threatened, so don’t ever attempt to pick one up with your bare hands.
• They can live for up to 15 years.

Red Squirrel

In much the same way as the turtle dove, the red squirrel is a far more spectacular and rarer variation of what many consider to be a common pest — namely, the grey squirrel. Unlike the turtle dove, though, their decline isn’t due to hunting, but direct competition. Rather ironically, the introduction of grey squirrels as an ‘ornamental species’ in the 1870s has led to the red squirrel becoming a rare sight in the UK. Their numbers have already fallen from an estimated 3.5 million to between 120,000 to 160,000 individuals, with 75% of the population residing in Scotland. 

So, what exactly are the grey squirrels doing to cause the demise of their red brethren? For starters, they’re passing on a disease; asymptomatic for greys, but deadly to red squirrels. Grey squirrels are also happy to eat unripe acorns, decimating the food supply before the fare-fussy reds are ready to dine. 

Naturally, between starving and becoming riddled with disease, the red squirrels are less inclined to breed, too. These three factors are proving extremely troublesome to combat — the tufty ears and russet coats of the red squirrel are becoming a rarer sight by the day. 

Red squirrel facts:

• On average, red squirrels live three years, although they can live up to ten years in safe enclosures.
• ​A squirrel’s sense of smell is exceptional. They can easily locate food buried underneath a foot of snow, or sense a rotten nut without even having to open it. 
• A squirrel can be left or right-handed. 
• Squirrels aren’t monogamous; they like to play the field! Mating season is from  February and March and occurs again from June to July.

Hedgehog

Hedgehog populations are in sharp decline, a trend that started around 70 years ago. In the 1950s, the hedgehog population stood at around 36 million. Since then, their numbers have dwindled to just 200,000. So, what can you do to help? Leave plain kitten biscuits, or wet/dry dog food at the bottom of your garden. Lots of cats in your area? Use a few bricks to cover the food and create a hedgehog-friendly entrance. For a full guide on how to help our ‘hogs, check out Countryfile’s hedgehog guide. 

Let’s move on from the fluffy and flighty to the prickly and portly — the hedgehog is somewhat of a national treasure here in the UK. It’s much more likely, however, that you’ll encounter one flattened on the side of the road rather than in your garden, trundling through the hedges. The ever-increasing traffic on our roads isn’t the humble hedgehog’s only enemy, though. Warmer winters are also causing them to wake up earlier than in previous years — a major issue, as their main sources of food are yet to have grown and matured. 

Hedgehog facts:

• A hedgehog’s back has around 5000 to 7000 spines. In response to threats, these can be raised and lowered.
• A group of hedgehogs is called an ‘array’.
• When foraging, hedgehogs can travel up to 2 miles — that’s a long way for such little legs!

Cicada

The last critter on our list might surprise you, but yes — cicadas do inhabit the UK… just about. At least we think they’re still here — the last sighting of one occurred before the turn of the millennium. Their only stronghold lies deep in The New Forest, but tracking their exact numbers is troublesome. 

In addition to their striking glassy, orange-lined wings, their main calling card is, well, their call. The only trouble is that this call is so high-pitched that it’s completely imperceptible to most humans — especially those over the age of 40. If you fancy spotting one of these strange, otherworldly-looking insects, head to The New Forest between May and July (though don’t be disappointed if you’re unable to track one down!). 

Cicada facts:

• There are over 3,000 species of cicada.
• These species can be split into two separate groups — annual and periodical.
• Periodical cicadas survive thanks to their sheer numbers. Millions (or even billions) may emerge at once, meaning predators couldn’t possibly eat them all!