Native adder species could disappear entirely from the British countryside within just seven years.
Ecologists at Arbtech have spotlighted the UK’s worsening wildlife crisis by analysing the status of 12 endangered native species. Irresponsible environmental practices and developments, pollution, and habitat destruction, have driven many species into steep decline – a pattern seen throughout the past century.
One species nearing extinction is the UK’s only venomous snake, the common European adder. It is already believed extinct in parts of the country – Nottinghamshire’s last sighting was in 2006. Arbtech’s 2025 British Wildlife Insights report also found snakes were among the UK’s least spotted species. Just 20% of people reported seeing one in the wild in the past five years. An authoritative study published in 2019, based on 11 years of monitoring across the country, sadly predicted that adders could be extinct in the UK by 2032.
Also facing significant decline in numbers is the water vole, with the population thought to have declined by 94% in the last 100 years. However, thanks to conservation work in reintroduction, habitat restoration and the effective eradication of American mink, water voles are showing signs of recovery in some regions.
Conservation work in Scotland has also given hope for the Scottish wildcat. Scotland’s wildcats are effectively extinct due to facing threats from habitat loss, hybridisation with domestic cats, and hunting. But the great work by Saving Wildcats enabled 19 wildcats to be released into various locations within the Cairngorms Connect landscape in 2023, and in May 2024 the first wild-born wildcat kittens were recorded on trail cameras within the release area. The brown hare has seen an 80% drop in 100 years, with numbers now around 579,000. Harvest mice are estimated at 566,000 but with some uncertainty, while the beloved hedgehog population has plummeted from 30 million in 1950 to just over one million today. There are glimmers of hope – greater horseshoe bats, otters, and red squirrels have all shown signs of recovery, though numbers remain low compared to historical levels.
Commenting on the findings, Mel Reid from Arbtech said: “It’s incredibly concerning to see how many of our native species are in trouble, with some extremely close to extinction. These animals are part of the UK’s natural heritage and losing them would mean losing part of what makes our countryside so special. The loss of habitats and declining species means we’re now seeing the consequences of irresponsible developments and poor environmental practices. But there is still hope and we encourage more people to support the fantastic conservation work happening across the country. The future of British wildlife depends on what we choose to do next.”
Read Arbtech’s full report and infographic on 12 endangered UK species at https://arbtech.co.uk/local-endangered-species-guide-infographic/
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