VOLUNTEERS across Somerset are being asked to keep an eye out for stag beetles during the annual Great Stag Hunt survey.

The survey is run by the wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) in the hopes of better understanding the challenges that these beetles face, as well as get a gauge on numbers.

Once widespread, stag beetles, which can be identified by their antler-like jaws, now face extinction due to habitat loss.

They can be found flying around gardens, parks and allotments, especially on summer evenings. They are also known to rest of walls and warm tarmac surfaces.

Laura Bower, conservation officer at PTES says: “Last year almost 10,000 sightings were recorded by thousands of volunteers, giving us a real insight into where their range is, which is crucial for the species’ long-term survival.

"More help is always needed though, so whether you’re out in the garden, dog walking in a local park, on the school run or even walking to the pub, keep your eyes peeled for these beautiful beetles and tell us about any you see.

"You don’t need to be a beetle expert or have taken part before, as PTES has a free ‘beetle ID’ guide to help anyone new to the survey to help them tell the differences between stag beetles and other insects.”

For those that are enthusiastic about the scheme, you can also take part in the Stag Beetle Count, which helps PTES better understand population numbers.

This extra survey only requires volunteers to walk along a local transect looking for stag beetles for 30 minutes, six times over June or July, on warm sunny days. 

Volunteer Gemma Alford said: “I’ve enjoyed getting out looking for stag beetles during my transect walks, often accompanied by one of my children or my husband. It’s always exciting to spot a stag beetle and we’ve had other magical moments too, including observing noctule bats hunting around trees.”

To take part in the Great Stag Hunt 2023 and to learn more about how you can create safe havens for the insects, please visit the PTES website.

You can also share your beetle snaps with the charity using #GreatStagHunt and tagging @PTES.