‘Spots and Stripes’ Survey – The Wildlife Information Centre

This survey aims to gather up-to-date information on the distribution of two of our native animals, the Leopard Slug and Badger. Both animals are thought to be widespread, but are under-recorded in the TWIC area.

We need your help!

If you see a Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) or Badger (Meles meles) in south-east or central Scotland, please let us know. The distinctive markings of both species should mean that they are readily identifiable. However, if you are in any doubt of your identification, please send us a photograph, so an expert can confirm your sighting. This is particularly useful for slug sightings. For a factsheet on Leopard Slug click here or for a Badger factsheet click here. To submit a record for either species, please fill in the form below.

Results to date

Since the launch of the survey in September 2012 we have received more than 800 records, with Badger sightings accounting for around three quarters of all records received. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.

Records from the survey can be viewed on the NBN Atlas Scotland. Badger records are uploaded at 2km square resolution because of their sensitive nature (especially sett information).

Further information

The Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland is a key resource for identifying and recording molluscs (including slugs and snails). Their website includes information on how to find and identify molluscs as well as links to other useful resources.
Scottish Badgers promote the study, conservation and protection of Scotland’s badgers.

Submit a sighting

Please fill in as many details as possible but those marked Required must be filled in. You should complete this form for each badger and/or slug you have seen. Please only submit a record if you are happy for The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC) to hold a copy of your personal data and to process it. We may need to contact you regarding the record you submit. If you are not happy for us to hold your personal data, please do NOT submit a record. Please note we can only accept sightings for the Lothians, Scottish Borders, Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. If you have sightings outwith this area in the UK, please submit your sightings to iRecord. Thank you.

What did you see?(Required)

Badger (or evidence of badger)

Leopard slug

If you saw the badger, was it dead or alive?

Dead

Alive

How many badgers did you see?

If you saw evidence of badger what was it?

Badger Sett

Tracks and Signs

Other information

Please include other helpful information about your sighting (e.g.adult, juvenile, dead on road, active sett).

Other information

This space is for any other information about the leopard slug you saw (e.g. feeding on decaying plant material)

Where did you see this badger or evidence?

Please give the location name and grid reference for your sighting.

Location Name(Required)

e.g. “Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, Midlothian” or “A68, north of Pathhead, Midlothian”. Please do not include house number or house name.

Grid Reference(Required)

You can use the ‘Grab-a-grid-Reference’ tool below to find the grid reference. Please record using a 100m square or 1km square grid reference (e.g. NT123456 or NT1245 respectively).

To find a grid reference, click on this link

Please note we can only accept sightings for the Lothians, Scottish Borders, Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council areas and the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. If you have wildlife sightings for another part of Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please submit your sightings to iRecord. Thank you.

Where did you see this slug?

Please give the location name and grid reference for your sighting.

Location Name(Required)

e.g. “Vogrie Country Park, Gorebridge, Midlothian” or “A68, north of Pathhead, Midlothian”. Please do not include house number or name.

Grid Reference(Required)

You can use the ‘Grab-a-grid-Reference’ tool below to find the grid reference. Please record using a 100m square or 1km square grid reference (e.g. NT123456 or NT1245 respectively).

To find a grid reference, click on this link

When did you see it?

Date(Required)

When did you see this slug?

Date(Required)

Who saw this badger or evidence?

Please enter the name of the person who saw the badger/ badger signs. Email and telephone number are optional*, but useful if we need to contact you about your sighting. If the recorder is under 16, please submit a parent or guardian’s name.

Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Telephone

Who saw this slug?

Please enter the name of the person who saw the slug. Email and telephone number are optional*, but useful if we need to contact you about your sighting. If the recorder is under 16, please submit a parent or guardian’s name.

Please only submit a record if you are happy for The Wildlife Information Centre (TWIC) to hold a copy of your personal data and to process it. We may need to contact you regarding the record you submit. If you are not happy for us to hold your personal data, please do NOT submit a record.

Full Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Telephone

If you would like to submit a photograph, please upload it here.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, Max. file size: 50 MB.

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