winter 2009 thedormouse monitor the newsletter of the national monitoring programme

people’s trust for endangered species |

INSIDE International dormouse conference an overview Mapping hedgerows new national project Dormouse bridges project results from Wildwood, Kent winter 2009

Welcome Contents Dormouse release, Yorkshire 3

New hedgerow mapping project 4

Hazel pollarding update 4

NDMP woodlands 5

Habitat-linkage work 5 With the dormouse fi eldwork season over it’s The 7th International Dormouse Conference 6 time to send in your 2008 dormouse records. Thank Dormouse bridge report, Wildwood, Kent 8 you to everyone involved in the NDMP, all your help PTES intern Alison Looser, Suff olk 9 is very much appreciated. Even if you did not fi nd Monitoring Midger Wood 10 any dormice this year we would still like to know as Devon dormouse BAP work 11 negative results are just as important as positive ones. Training courses and news 12 Last summer was another wet and disappointing one and will certainly have aff ected dormouse numbers. Many of you have reported that dormouse numbers are very low indeed and little breeding had occurred. There was some good news from Cumbria (see back page) where their highest ever dormouse numbers were recorded. People's Trust for Endangered Species With our continually poor 15 Cloisters House summers, it is important 8 Battersea Park Road to remember that London management becomes more SW8 4BG critical than ever. We were hoping that the www.ptes.org new online data entry system Tel: 020 7498 4533 would be ready for last years' [email protected] records but sadly it is not Registered charity number 274206 ready yet; it will be working The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme is funded by PTES and Natural England. for the 2009 data. 2009 is the 21st birthday of The scientifi c work is based at Royal Holloway, University of London. the NDMP. We hope you will celebrate with us. Ideas to get The Dormouse Monitor is compiled by Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi . you going will be in the next issue. Cover image kindly provided by Hugh Clarke. Printed by NPL Printers on environmentally friendly paper. Best wishes

Nida Al Fulaij ([email protected]) & Susan Sharafi ([email protected])

People’s Trust for Endangered Species

2 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2009 winter 2009

Dormouse release, Yorkshire

The is of local volunteers, led by from 10m to 280m. Three of FACTS now back in the Yorkshire Dr Tim Thom, of the YDNP, the furthest were across the Dales National Park (YDNP) carried out the fi rst box railway that runs through 16 reintroductions in 12 counties in 16 years. following last years' check. 58 dormice were the middle of the wood. The successful reintroduction. It found in 19 nestboxes plus record however belongs to A total of 635 dormice have is 100 years since they were a further 32 boxes had a female who was originally been released. last recorded in the Park. empty nests in them. This released near the Falls path Once again it was a joint was an encouraging 26% who travelled 280m to a box In 2007 618 dormice were recorded at the release sites; eff ort by Natural England, occupancy of the total 195 in the north-western corner an average of 13 per visit. PTES, Paignton Zoo, ZSL and boxes placed throughout of the newly coppiced plots the Common Dormouse the woodland. The largest north of the railway line. At all release sites dormice Captive Breeders Group, litter that was found was If the travelled in survived their fi rst who, along with the YDNP, of eight young. 21 of the a straight line this would hibernation and reared young. released 35 dormice into 58 found were have involved crossing Freeholders' Wood near under 7g. 15 of the animals open ground along the At 3 sites dormice have Aysgarth in June. Staff from caught were from the railway line at its widest moved beyond the release PTES and Paignton Zoo original group released, six point through one or two site. Unfortunately 3 sites no placed the dormice in mesh females and nine males. year coppice to arrive at the longer have dormice. cages attached to hazel The remaining 43 consisted box. It’s encouraging that trees within the wood. The of nine females, 11 males the dormice are travelling dormice were fed by staff and the rest were not old throughout the wood and and volunteers from the enough to be sexed. we wait to hear the results Yorkshire Dales National It is always interesting of the spring check in May Park Authority. After ten to look at the distance to hear how the animals fare The 2008 dormouse days, openings were made the released animals have over winter. release at Asygarth in the mesh to allow the travelled from the cages Falls in the Yorkshire Dales National Park dormice to explore. they were originally released has been a great In September a group into. The distances varied success to date. WHITFIELD BENSON & PTES

winter 2009 | the dormouse monitor | 3 winter 2009

New hedgerow mapping project Hedgerows are highly has left dormice in England dormouse areas, the project valued as wildlife habitat, in isolated populations will involve volunteer providing an important food and there has been a recruitment and training, TAKE PART source and acting as vital 64% decline of dormouse hedgerow surveying, To volunteer for our corridors for the successful occurrence in hedgerows delivery of hedgerow hedgerow project and dispersal of woodland scrub since the late 1970s. management advice and help to map the hedgerow species such as dormice. PTES is launching a information, facilitating connections across the Agricultural intensifi cation three-year project to map and contributing funding countryside please contact and loss of traditional the presence and quality for hedgerow replanting Jim Jones at [email protected] or management practices of hedgerows around and developing a scheme call him on 020 7498 4533. have been key drivers known dormouse areas. to reward wildlife-friendly in the massive loss and The project will provide hedgerow management. deterioration of hedgerows the basis of management in Britain. Detailed plans and involve practical knowledge of hedgerow work to restore hedgerows presence and quality is so as to connect isolated lacking in relation to the key dormouse populations and species that depend upon off er new habitat. The work them. will benefi t many other Historically dormice BAP species too such as were frequently found hedgehogs, harvest mice, in hedgerows. Their polecats, bird and abundance is, however, species that depend on dependent on sympathetic hedgerows. hedgerow management. In addition to creating a The current fragmented digital map of England’s state of Britain’s hedgerows hedgerows around known WOLTON ROB Hazel pollarding update In the last issue we had an ground level. This method with fencing as opposed Mark ascerts that in his article about pollarding has been very successful to pollarding. Whilst experience pollarded hazel hazel and asked if any of you in reducing the browsing acknowledging that the suff ers a higher mortality had tried it, whether you on the re-growth of the initial cost of fencing can and does not throw out as found it benefi cial or not. hazel, which has grown be expensive he says that many or as vigorous shoots Thank you to everyone who back so eff ectively that the more times a fence can as hazel that has been contacted us, here is what the fi eld layer of fl owering be used the cheaper each cut ‘hard’ to the ground. you said. plants seems to have been one becomes in the long “Pollarding should only be Paul Manchester who detrimentally aff ected. term. His oldest fence has regarded as a short term monitors Little Linford wood Previously when areas been up for 16 years and is solution to what is a long in Bedfordshire, the site of of ash and hazel were protecting its fourth coupe. term problem with deer.” a 1998 dormouse release, coppiced explained that a large area at ground of their wood had been level they clear felled in 1986. This was grew back re-planted in 1988 and a 30 almost year coppice cycle started entirely from 2002, with the hazel ash. being pollarded at about Mark waist height to reduce Rawlins browsing. Paul’s team also from use the felled branches to Cumbria make dead hedges around uses the coppiced area. Oak are traditional left to grow, whilst silver coppicing

birch and ash are cut at methods HAMILTON ROBIN

4 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2009 winter 2009

NDMP woodlands Habitat-linkage work The NDMP has proved to but it will probably be a Key hedgerows to be a wonderful tool to simple, single month’s link woodlands at plot trends in the national survey of how closely the a Yorkshire release site. Solid line dormouse population over woodland structure around indicates good time. It also provides an each box matches one of hedge; dashed opportunity for people the six diagrams shown line indicates poor to actively participate in below. This is a very broad hedge. wildlife monitoring. Since habitat survey but over time 2004 PTES have asked for it will hopefully reinforce additional records of other our ideas of the type of that are using woodland structure that the boxes and this year is preferred by dormice. It we would like to refi ne may also help us to achieve this by asking monitors to another of the initial aims of also record the weights the NDMP which was to use of any pygmy shrews and it to provide a focus for local yellow-necked mice using habitat management. the boxes. Advice on how More information will be in best to achieve this without the next Dormouse Monitor getting bitten will follow in and it will also be sent out spring. with the recording forms in In addition throughout the spring. Ian White has been The local FWAG 2009 we would like to ask successfully working Conservation Advisor recorders for a habitat Ian White around the reintroduction helped us liaise with local assessment of the areas Dormouse Offi cer sites, with the landowners landowners and a walk over around their boxes. Details both of the woods and survey was completed on are yet to be fi nalised the surrounding areas, to the site to identify existing link up dormouse-friendly key hedgerows and sites habitat to encourage these where new planting would populations to spread into be benefi cial. A provisional the wider countryside. In plan was then sent to the the summer of 2004, 61 landowners and tenant animals were released in farmers for discussion two adjacent woodlands in and to identify which Dense canopy, no Open canopy sparse understorey understorey Yorkshire. They were chosen hedgerows would benefi t as they are large coppice most from more sensitive woodlands that are actively management. Once this managed. It was considered had been agreed a more that these woods would be comprehensive survey an ideal habitat from which was undertaken on those the dormouse population hedges selected, looking could expand and then at 10m sections and begin to disperse. identifying what species Although it is highly were present, their density, Open canopy, dense Sparse canopy, understorey sparse understorey unlikely that the dormice gaps that required planting have already fully utilised and future management. the suitable habitat within Such a survey allows for a either of the woods; more structured and precise there was an excellent long term management opportunity to link programme on the key additional woodlands in hedgerows, which is more the area with hedgerows. likely to be acceptable to This would greatly increase the farmer, or landowner, the amount of potential and hence are more likely Sparse canopy, habitat available to dormice to be undertaken in the dense understorey Other vegetation in the future and would short and long-term. also benefi t many other SARAH HOBBS DERS hedgerow species.

winter 2009 | the dormouse monitor | 5 winter 2009

Seventh international dormouse conference The Somerset village of between UK dormice Shipham, nestled in the populations which should Mendips close to Cheddar, reveal interesting results in was the venue for The 7th due course. Presentations International Dormouse by Rimvydas Juškaitis Conference last September. (Lithuania) and Paul Chanin The conference, hosted by (UK) also provided evidence The Society and that dormice will, in certain organised by its chairman, circumstances, cross gaps as Michael Woods, was wide as 6-7m. an opportunity for 145 Workshops were held scientists, conservationists, on Saturday and Monday. consultants, monitors The fi rst, chaired by Sven and dormice enthusiasts Buechner (Germany) Delegates were from eighteen countries, discussed the need to shown the fi rst wire from Japan to South monitor dormice in order bridge in use in the UK during their Africa, to present papers to fulfi l obligations of EU fi eld trip through on new research, project member states under the Cheddar Gorge. updates and observations directive, and on dormice species from highlighted the disparity around the world. in monitoring extent and Presentations were given methods (nests vs boxes) on population studies, between EU countries. It predation and parasites, was agreed some research monitoring, and genetics needed to be undertaken covering the hazel or to standardise the diff erent common dormouse approaches and much (Muscardinus avellanarius), email-swapping ensued. A PIT-tagged together with the edible On Monday there was a dormouse was (Glis glis), forest (Dryomys lively discussion on good on hand for spp) and garden dormice practice guidelines for participants to see. ( spp) found in woodland management for continental Europe; the Muscardinus avellanarius chaired by Tony Mitchell- ( murinus), one of Jones of Natural England. 15 species native to Africa; Tony was seeking help on and the how to advise woodland (Glirulus japonicus). managers now that Among the highlights legislation excludes even were two wonderful the accidental death of Various local presentations by Shusaku dormice through lawful experts, including Minato on the Japanese practices such as forestry. Andrew Parker, gave talks about the dormouse with slow-motion Suggestions from the diff erent projects footage of its locomotion conference were that timing going on across the and evidence for the use was key - work should be site. of artifi cial bridges in wild expressly avoided during populations in Japan. the earliest part of the Darlina Md Naim (UK) breeding season - and that et al from the Northwest felling in individual woods Dormouse Partnership should be considered in a provided a fascinating larger spatial context similar insight into the breeding to the impact assessments The nine mile walk behaviour of dormice undertaken for great crested on Sunday's fi eld through genetic analysis, newts. trip took in Black revealing a polygynous PTES was well represented Rock where the fi rst mating structure. The in the talks. Jim Jones et monitoring of the NDMP scheme was team are also currently al presented a history of

MICHAEL WOODS, DAVID WELLS DAVID MICHAEL WOODS, undertaken. mapping the relationships the NDMP, now in its 21st

6 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2008 winter 2009 nce, Cheddar Somerset

year, together with a new PROJECT: Chipped dormice PROJECT: Edible dormice PROJECT: Locomotion of the examination of data from COUNTRY: England ecology Japanese dormouse. this dataset, the longest BRIEF: Michael Woods COUNTRY: England COUNTRY: Japan running national terrestrial presented a paper jointly BRIEF: Pat Morris reported BRIEF: Shusaku Minato gave monitoring scheme in with Roger Trout from Forest on a ten-year population an enthusiastic presentation the world. A paper on Research based on data study of the looking at locomotion in the reintroductions in the UK collected from two sites. (Glis glis) that he and a Japanese dormouse (Glirulus number of other volunteers co-authored by Ian White, japonicus). It was revealed have been carrying out in at a previous International PTES Dormouse Offi cer woodland near Berkhamstead. Dormouse Conference that, was presented showing Almost a thousand individual while the hazel dormouse the success of the project dormice have been marked moves around predominantly to date after the 16th on top of branches and reintroduction last June. twigs, the Japanese dormouse On Sunday there was spends most of its time a nine mile fi eld trip in hanging underneath its the Cheddar area to see arboreal pathways. Shusaku various dormouse studies, has shown experimentally, including PIT tagging, being carried out by The Mammal Society's local group and the site at Black Rock where systematic dormice monitoring in the UK fi rst began in 1988, during which the weather was thankfully Over 150 hazel dormice very kind. Many of the (Muscardinus avellanarius) conference participants also have been PIT tagged by Roger in a Corsican pine took the opportunity on plantation in Worcestershire Tuesday to visit the edible since 2002 and some 45 dormice project at Tring dormice have been tagged using implanted PIT tags and with Pat Morris and Brian since 2006 in a 5ha hazel details of breeding success using long thin wires strung Barton. coppice area in Somerset by and longevity recorded. over a gap, that this mode The next International volunteers from The Mammal One of the key fi ndings was of locomotion appears to Conference will be held in Society’s local group. Some that the population failed be more effi cient and stable to breed in some years but Saxony in 2011, hosted by animals have been recaptured for the dormouse when in those with a heavy crop compared with the Japanese Sven Buechner. from nest boxes after over two years of apparent of beech mast, a ‘masting woodmouse which tried to year’, reproduction was balance on top of the wire READ absence. By adding to the monthly count of animals high with between 200 and when crossing the gap. In 300 young being found in his latest paper, Shusaku Rimvydas Juskaitis is found during box checks not the 130 nest boxes. The worked with the Japanese selling his book The only those dormice known to interesting point about this, Broadcasting Corporation common dormouse be chipped and subsequently as Pat indicated, was that using high speed cameras muscardinus avellanarius rediscovered as alive but also the animals appeared to be taking up to 2000 frames ecology, population those found for the fi rst time able to predict masting years a second in order to study structure and dynamics. It but which must have been and time their reproduction in much greater detail the costs £12 (15 including alive during some of the accordingly so that there was locomotion of these dormice p&p). Please contact previous checks, it has been plenty of food for the larger by slowing down the fi lm. Rimvydas by email at possible to back calculate the population to prepare for The animals moved alternate [email protected] number of animals known to be alive at any one check. hibernation in the autumn. diagonally opposite limbs From this it was found that Generally speaking masting when travelling upside- the average number of years occur every other year down (from a European WATCH dormice known to be alive but 1999 and 2000 were perspective!) through bushes was about three times the both masting years with the and shrubs. If they were Roger Trout from the Forestry number actually found in dormice breeding accordingly. moving particularly quickly, Commission featured in a boxes. There will, of course, On the other hand 2006 and they also make use of their BBC fi lm about his work with be further dormice that have 2007 were both years when tails as a counterbalance dormice in conifer plantations. never used a dormouse box the edible dormice produced swinging it alternately left and Go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/ and so have never been large numbers of young but right in order to keep their hi/england/7693465.stm caught. only 2006 was a masting year. bodies stable.

winter 2009 | the dormouse monitor | 7 winter 2009

Dormouse bridge report Wildwood, Kent There is an increasing to monitor their activity over cloud cover than low cloud problem of habitat a period of seven weeks cover. Ian also found that fragmentation caused with the cameras being the large empty horizontal by roads, woodland moved to diff erent positions tunnels are used when the access tracks and other every week or so. In total, temperature is relatively infrastructural projects. Last the cameras recorded 117 high, but the small empty year Ian Stride, working images of dormice using vertical is used considerably at Wildwood Trust, Herne the tunnels. Eighty-nine more frequently when Bay, Kent, undertook an of these recorded images temperatures are lower experiment to discover showed use of the vertical (below 15oc). Finally, it was which types of wire mesh tunnels, compared with only found that dormice tended tunnels dormice may show a 28 that showed use of the to use the small empty preference for, and therefore horizontal ones. However, all vertical tunnel more often at could be used in mitigation. of the 'groups' of dormice, higher wind speeds, and the With PTES funding Ian spent both males and females, large fi lled vertical tunnel several months constructing did at some point in time more often at lower wind an experimental enclosure travel across the entire speeds. with diff erent sized wire length of the tunnels and Overall, this project has mesh tunnels spanning an were found the following shown that dormice will use access track in woodland morning in their nest wire mesh tunnel bridges. and monitoring the extent boxes inside the opposite They could, therefore, play to which they were used by enclosure on the other side a valuable role in linking the captive-bred dormice at of the track. In all cases the fragmented habitats of Wildwood. dormice used the empty isolated and endangered Four tunnels, two ‘large’ tunnels signifi cantly more dormouse populations ones at 200mm in diameter frequently than they did in the UK and beyond. and two ‘small’ ones at the tunnels with sisal inside. However, more research 150mm in diameter, were Nonetheless, it is certainly needs to be carried out to set up. One of each size worth experimenting with test their optimal design was fi lled with sisal, which diff erent types of vegetation using diff erent substrates resembles rope, and was to see whether it gives and under various weather used as a substitute for signifi cantly diff erent results condition, with wild vegetation whilst the others from sisal. populations. were left empty. Interestingly of the 117 Small groups or individual recorded images of dormice Various tunnels were dormice were placed in the using the tunnels, 100 constructed at Wildwood to experimental enclosure were of males and only 17 see which size and length were for a period of time, after of females. Working out preferred by the dormice. which they were replaced a method that takes into with another small group, account how many days or an individual. Initially were spent in the enclosures two adult females were in by each sex, females were the enclosure for a week, only found in 14% of the followed by three younger images taken, compared males, which were in the with 86% for males. Overall, enclosure for about three this suggests that males weeks. These were then appear to be more willing replaced with two adult to use tunnel bridges than females, which remained females. in the enclosure for Ian also recorded the approximately a week. Next, weather patterns to see a single male was tested for if they had any eff ect on four days, and fi nally the when or if the dormice activities of the two original used the tunnels. It appears females were re-monitored that empty tunnels were for a week. more likely to be used Two cameras were set up under conditions of high IAN STRIDE

8 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2009 winter 2009

PTES intern: Alison Looser, Suffolk In 2008 Alison Looser was better understanding of fragments are linked by a parish are better than those awarded a PTES mammals dormouse distribution. good network of ancient in the south. internship to undertake a Alison surveyed all the hedgerows, one of which Bentley is therefore the project with Suff olk Wildlife links between woods within was shown to support most viable cluster for Trust (SWT) to create a each cluster and categorised dormice through nest tube dormice in Suff olk but ‘living landscape’ for the them as either species surveys. currently contains no county’s hazel dormice. rich, gappy, species poor Assington has about 8% NDMP sites. Assington The project focused on the (intact) or no hedge, based woodland cover across requires the most work Stour Valley, where previous on features such as height, 11 blocks, fi ve of which to link up fragmented survey work undertaken width, species composition were already known to woodlands, however with by SWT between 1999 and and management. support dormice. Several land-owners cooperation 2007 had revealed that Key to the success of the good hedges link some of this is already starting this there are three main clusters project has been Alison’s the woodlands, with new winter. Negotiations are of wild dormice. These are excellent rapport with the hedges recently planted. also under way to reinstate centred in the parishes of 30 landowners contacted Long-term monitoring of critical sections of hedges Bentley, Assington and during the project, who dormouse populations at in Polstead, where a land- Polstead. However it was have been very helpful at all Tiger Hill and Spouses Vale owner has also agreed his not known how fragmented stages. suggests populations are site can be entered into the the populations are because Bentley was shown to just hanging on and are in NDMP scheme. the habitat quality between have the largest area of serious threat of becoming Alison’s report also the woodlands had not yet woodland of the three extinct without further recommended habitat been surveyed. parishes with about 10% conservation eff orts. improvements in six The main aims of Alison’s ancient woodland and 1.5% Polstead has sections of priority habitat project were to assess the secondary woodland in approximately 4% ancient improvement plus a habitat corridors between 20 woodland blocks. Eight woodland over 12 blocks further six for secondary the fragments of woodland woodlands were known and a good network of improvements in each of in each area; identify where to support dormice and large, ancient hedges the three parishes. The priority links need to be nest tube surveys showed with previous studies report will be used to made by planting a new that in addition they were showing that many contain encourage landowners hedge or gapping up an present in disused railway permanent dormice to plant new hedgerows existing one; and survey line hedgerows, as well as populations. A previously or gap up existing ones, woodlands and hedges three new woodlands. This un-surveyed woodland was creating a better landscape in each cluster using nest could be exciting evidence also found to have dormice. for dormice in Suff olk. tubes in order to gain a of juvenile dispersal. These Linkages in the north of the

Alison's map of the Bentley area highlights the diff erent hedges and boundaries (red, yellow, purple, blue) that connect the woodlands (bordered in green) and the local dormouse records (red stars). 10016410 CROWN COPYRIGHT LICENCE NUMBER CROWN JANET LOOSER

winter 2009 | the dormouse monitor | 9 winter 2009

Monitoring Midger Wood

Monitoring the dormice Subsequently we have We understand that this deep hibernation, was the in Midger Wood, a sometimes wondered population crash occurred summer so dry that they Gloucestershire Wildlife whether one of those in other areas too. We have did not need our boxes, Trust Reserve in the south populations has survived seen few yellow-necked and this reminded us again of the county, has been but it seems to be hanging mice since. that there may be many going on for 15 years. It is in there as we have found By 2004 the original team dormice out there who do a 22 acre wood in a steep- one or two dormice over of monitors was beginning not consider our boxes to sided valley, and is part of a the last two years. We have to worry about the future – be desirable residences. much larger area of semi- to remind ourselves that, we were all 10 years older 2006 was a better year for natural ancient woodland hopefully, there are other and some had had to give the dormice so the small all of which is a SSSI. In 1994 dormice who shun our up. By coincidence this 2005 population must have 50 boxes were erected in boxes! was the year in which two been strong enough to March and by the end of In 1998 we positively members of the Wiltshire survive the winter as we had May one box was occupied identifi ed yellow-necked Wildlife Trust wanted to get 16 adult dormice during by a dormouse and 10 were mice, as they are bigger, experience to obtain their 2006 and six families. occupied by small birds. smellier, and more inclined dormouse licences and 2007 may have been a This 20% occupancy by to bite than wood mice. asked GWT if they could join disappointing year for small birds – mostly tits and Their population grew us. Not only was it a good dormice but it was a good wrens – has continued ever over the next two years year for monitoring, it was a year for wood mice and an since. and by 2000 we were good year for the dormice. eventful year in other ways. From 1995 onward boxes concerned at the explosion In July we recorded the The BBC radio programme were inspected monthly of yellow-necked mice as largest number we had Shared Earth visited us from May to October but they were taking over some ever recorded in one month during the June survey on by 1997 we had 105 boxes of the boxes and we lost and we found fi ve families. a gorgeous summer's day and inspections from April one family of dormice to Unfortunately for the fi rst when the wood looked at to November were carried predation by them. So when time we also found dead its best and the presenter out. At this time we had their population crashed dormice and one infested was delighted to see his fi rst fi ve regular monitors, two between August and with “a small number of dormouse. In November, with licences, all newly September 2001 we had to reddish ". one of our founder monitors retired and with energy and admit we were not sorry! In common with most was 80 on the day we were enthusiasm. sites 2005 was a poor year, monitoring so we had a By 1997 the records which was disappointing birthday cake made by one suggested that we after 2004, and we were of the other volunteers. had two very small questioning whether there Since monitoring Midger populations of was any explanation – was Wood, our population dormice in our wood. the winter too mild for has not declined and is relatively stable. It has also TheTheh MMiidgedgdgegerrW Woodoooodd revealed which boxes have monmomononitoiittorinriinng teameaeamam never been used and which havhaavveeb beeeneeenen rerecrucruitiitititingng are most favoured – now we newneew memembembeb rrsrs.s. ought to see if we can fi nd out why. 2008 has not been a good year for dormice but we have a splendid team of monitors, several of whom have attended conferences outside the county during the autumn so we are confi dent that our monitoring will go on and we have lots more to discover about the dormice and about the whole habitat of our ancient woodland site.

Dora Clarke LAUREN ALEXANDER LAUREN CATE JACKSON, ANDREW TAYLOR ANDREW JACKSON, CATE

10 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2009 winter 2009

Devon dormouse work & BAP update As the smoke cleared a of the BAP work. Devon densities. To complicate Zoo and Exeter University. distinct squeaking could Wildlife Trust (DWT) is matters an additional layer Studies at Exeter University be heard coming from county ‘champion’ agency of data, from planning are investigating the ground. Burning is a for the dormouse, with casework, consultants’ hibernation, diet, and traditional management responsibility for co- reports, and incidental testing tracking tubes as practice for Devon’s culm ordinating and supporting records, only sporadically a monitoring technique. grassland mire pastures, local work. This was the makes it to the Records Paignton’s research to stimulate fresh growth second Devon dormouse Centre. Out of this some department has supervised for livestock; these treeless BAP get together and four-fi ve new dormouse sites student projects on use of places are not where legal aspects were topical, might pop up each year. nest boxes in reedbeds, pre- one would expect to fi nd with regards to the recent Dartmoor National Park, hibernation feeding, and dormice. And yet here loophole-plugging changes the North Devon Dormouse nest material preferences. were six nests among to UK legislation imposing Project, Stover Country A study this year looked the smouldering Molinia stricter guidelines for Park, Exeter City Council, at foraging behaviour of tussocks, with the dormice licensing, as were the and DWT described their captive animals, measuring still in them. Heathland national BAP targets of varied experiences with exertion carried out to gorse bushes, Douglas maintaining and increasing nest box schemes, which obtain a food reward. fi r plantations, rampant the UK dormouse range together account for 11 of Paignton is also involved in rhododendron, cropped and population size. the 16 currently running in two national programmes: roadside hedges, and a Unfortunately we don’t have the county, some still going veterinary research, reedbed are some other a thorough monitoring/ strong after 10 years or conducted into the health of infrequent habitats. Dormice surveying eff ort and more. 2008, from diff erent wild dormouse populations, are not everywhere, but knowledge of baseline parts of Devon, has varied and as part of the dormouse could be anywhere. A stoical data, so not all regions of between being either a captive breeders network. response is to attribute these the country, including the decent or quite bad year Fatty liver syndrome is a occurrences to ‘NFD’: Normal key east Devon area, are for breeding dormice. At particular area of interest For Devon. However if this adequately represented by Stover, dormice have been and possible concern. broadens the defi nition monitoring sites. Devon found nesting among the Finally the group visited the of potential dormouse Biodiversity Records Centre rhododendron scrub, and dormouse captive breeding habitat, it also has practical described the current state breeding in nest tubes. facilities based at the zoo. implications for monitoring, of dormice, dormouse The long distance Tarka The annual BAP day will planning control, and records, and how the two Trail has made a feature of be repeated. For more Biodiversity Action Plan compared. Distribution dormouse sites and projects information about DWT’s (BAP) work. is relatively well known, along the route, which are dormouse BAP activities In August 2008 some but little is revealed about planned to be extended, please contact Jackie Gage 40 dormouse workers population changes or while Devon Farming and jgage@devonwildlifetrust. gathered at Paignton Zoo Wildlife Advisory Group org, tel. 01392 279244 to meet, network, and (FWAG) promotes dormouse Devon dormouse yahoo talk dormouse as part conservation work through group: hedgerow schemes and the http://pets.groups. annual Devon Hedge Week yahoo.com/group/ events. devondormousers Attendees then learned about research at Paignton Stephen Carroll, Devon Wildlife Trust

Sixteen woodlands are being monitored throughout Devon; nest tubes are being used to fi nd new populations. CATE JACKSON, ANDREW TAYLOR ANDREW JACKSON, CATE

winter 2009 | the dormouse monitor | 11 MORRIS PAT winter 2009

Training courses and news ■ TRAINING seven last year. events to highlight the COURSES ------celebrations please call The Mammal Society is Our dormouse numbers Emily on 020 7498 4533. running at least seven are beginning to increase Thank you! Dormouse Ecology and this month, but there is still Conservation day courses no sign of any woodmice ■ DORMICE ON next year. The dates, at or yellow necks, not even a FILM present, are 8 and 26 nest. After two 'boom' years Last year there has been June, 18 July, 15 August, 18 for them I assume this is a a lot of press about the and 19 September and 16 I'm extremely puzzled as to 'crash' year, at least in this various dormouse projects October. The venues are why numbers have rocketed. area. Is the crash UK wide occurring around the in Somerset, Kent and We don't appear to have or does anyone have lots of country. The Yorkshire Devon. Half of each course is had as much rain as down 'unwelcome' guests in their dormouse release was indoors and the other south. It was so dry that boxes? featured both locally and half in the fi eld where it in June badger cubs were ------nationally on Countryfi le. should be possible for seen in the middle of the Today we found eight Roger Trout's work with the participants to handle day well away from setts, yellow necks and only one Foresrty Commission was dormice. presumably because they dormouse (the fi rst since fi lmed by the BBC and our The Mammal Society will were desperate for earth May), but I was reading own woodland Briddlesford also be running at least two worms. How have others recently that yellow necks was featured on ITV Local Dormice and Development fared in 2008, anyone else should have their own Meridian. To see the footage day courses for ecological experienced this 'explosion' conservation status, I please visit our website consultants on 2 and 27 in numbers? personally like to see them. http://ptes.org/index. March in Somerset. For ------Admittedly, their numbers php?page=285 further details and to book a Wonderful news for Cumbria do boom and bust, and I am place telephone 0238 - unlike you, we in Sussex not sure if there is confl ict ■ GARDEN 0237874. are experiencing our worst over the boxes, but over the DORMOUSE numbers for years! In fact past 20 years we have had Here is a picture of a Janice Whittington is so far we have not found both in our wood. Perhaps dormouse we found in our running three Dormouse any dormice and very few a bad year for dormice such garden in Margaretting, Ecology & Conservation other mice at all!! It was as this one would mean Essex. I heard my nan shriek Courses in 2009 on 2 encouraging to hear your a greater impact of any so I knew there must have June, 2 September and news. I wonder what the competition in future years. been a creature of some 28 September all at explanation is. kind as she isn't keen on live Hallsannery Centre, Devon. ------If you would like to join the animals. There it was sitting The programme includes Likewise it's great to hear forum please email Susan at on a tree looking sweet and ecology and conservation. some good news - here in [email protected] innocent, showing us its For more details or a mid Beds we're having our beautiful features. It stayed booking form contact worst year since the dormice ■ NUT APPEAL Janice at: Watertown Farm, were reintroduced in 2001. Next year will be the 21st Landcross, Bideford, Devon, We found one in May and anniversary of the NDMP. EX39 5JA. Tel 01237 459679 one in August. To celebrate PTES will be [email protected] ------running a series of events It is dreadful down here in and activities, including ■ DORMOUSE Somerset too. The simple our ‘Mammal Detectives’ FORUM answer is the weather. Three workshop at schools DISCUSSIONS bad summers in a row can and fairs. It involves the We've had a record breaking eliminate some dormouse children examining a set of year in many respects here populations and this is the clues to solve the mystery in Cumbria. Double fi gures second!! of the stolen hazelnuts! in the tree for 30 minutes four months running from ------Consequently we need and then disappeared. We May-August; never had Things started well at our your help to collect a large think it is using a bird box anything like this before site in Cornwall with about quantity of hazelnuts that in a neighbouring tree. I and not so early in the year. 40% more in May than last have been nibbled by would love to fi nd out how These four months have year, but there have been dormice. Please send as to attract other rare animals now broken the previous fewer in subsequent months many as you can to Emily at into my garden. record for an entire year. and only three attempts at PTES. Also if you could help Whilst I'm not complaining breeding compared with by hosting any dormouse Jordanne, aged 11.

12 | the dormouse monitor | winter 2009