The stag beetle is the UK's largest terrestrial insect and is dependent on decaying wood in gardens and parks, with populations declining as fallen wood is cleared from urban environments.
While stag beetle sentience is uncertain, their ecological role as decomposers and prey for multiple vertebrate species makes their conservation important for broader animal welfare. Clearance of decaying wood removes essential larval habitat causing population-level decline. Adult beetles are frequently killed by cats and dogs while active on warm summer evenings.