This online short course is designed to take you through how to identify UK mammals (excluding bats). It covers physical appearance and ID features, feeding signs, footprints, burrows and droppings. Thirty-six mammals are covered including all the common and rare species from deer and wild boar to the small mammals.
Guidance on further reading is given.
The course comprises of 3 modules which are viewed online will be available as soon as you book.
Who is the course aimed at?
- People who want to pursue a career in ecological consultancy or conservation.
- People interested in a career in ecology.
- People who have a general interest in mammals.
- People who may need to identify UK mammals during surveys
Course format: The course is in the form of slides containing text, illustrations and photographs. At the end there will be a short quiz and if you get over 70% you will receive a Certificate.
Time commitment: This 3 module short course is expected to take around 4-5 hours to complete. There is no specific time limit for completing the course, but you will not receive a certificate until you have submitted your quiz answers.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course you will be able to identify 36 species of UK mammals including their physical appearance, their tracks, feeding signs and burrows (where appropriate).
Core texts:
- FSC Guide – Key to British Land Mammals
- Collins Field Guide to Mammals of Britain and Europe by McDonald
- Animal Tracks and Signs (Pocket Nature Guide) by Bang and Dahlstrom
Module 1
Module 1 – Unmistakeable Mammals and Deer
Module 2
Module 2 – Mustelids and small mammals
Module 3
Module 3 – Tracks and Signs
It offers a helpful starting point to learning about, and distinguishing between, many small mammals we may be familiar with but don’t know much about. It really helps your confidence when trying to identify species that you encounter but can’t really tell what they are. I will definitely be investigating small mammals further now I have a clearer understanding about which ones are which.
It covered the basics well and helps set species apart.
The Mammal ID course is informative and will give you a good basic knowledge. It will either brush up your ID skills or teach you things you didn’t know. You will learn about poo, footprints and easy to remember identifying features that will stick in your memory, such as the fact that a badger hole is in the shape of a D and that a weasel’s colouring between the tawny and white has a wavy edge (I could never remember the difference between a stoat and weasel apart from the size!). The course is a good length and there’s a quiz at the end to test you on what you can remember.
I liked learning the different footprints and droppings.
Informative course, a good starter for learning UK mammal signs and tracks.
Thank you for the mammal ID course. Although the mammals in the flesh weren’t too much trouble the droppings and foot prints were a very enjoyable challenge, having spent a lot of time in the recent snow identifying various prints
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The final exam is designed to test whether you have learned the appropriate knowledge and skills during this course. If you take the final exam and do not pass, we encourage you to review the course material and ensure you have read, understood and remembered the lessons. We want you to get the most out of this course and provide you with the knowledge and confidence you need to apply what you learn to your job or career. You may retake the final test once you have revisited the course material.
Yes! We want you to get as much out of this course as possible. We encourage you to refer back to your course materials from time to time to refresh your memory and ensure that you are confident on the subject. Therefore, when you purchase this course, you will have lifetime access to the course materials.
