spring 2011 thedormouse monitor

the newsletter of the national monitoring programme

people’s trust for endangered |

INSIDE Releasing captive-bred dormice the fi rst ever reintroduction Underpasses for dormice? Edible dormice studies from the continent spring 2011

Welcome Contents Yorkshire dormouse release update 3

Tribute to Jonathan Woods 3

Edge Wood study of dormice 4

A long-term study of edible dormice, Bucks 5

Haslemere hedgerow project 6 Welcome to the spring edition of The Dormouse Warwickshire Dormouse Conservation Group 7 Monitor. We’ve lots of interesting articles for you First dormouse release Hailey Wood, 1992 8 on recent and long-term research projects - both Shooters are leading on a new dormouse project in Cheshire 10 here and on the continent. Karin Lebl has collected Underpasses for dormice? 12 data from fi ve long-term studies of edible dormice Dormouse activity on the A30 in Cornwall 13 in fi ve diff erent countries and looked at their diff erent Survival rates of hibernating Glis glis 14 rates of mortality and how that was aff ected by An easy way to reduce PIT-tag loss in 15 whether they were breeding or not. We also have Alessio The eff ects of habitat loss and fragmentation on dormice in central Italy 16 Mortelliti’s report on his work assessing what impact The behaviour of dormice in hedgerows with gaps 18 hedgerow connectivity has on dormouse populations in Training courses and news 20 the Italian landscape. Encouragingly we also have news of several projects that are relying on the goodwill and eff orts of numerous People's Trust for Endangered Species 15 Cloisters House volunteers - all keen to help, 8 Battersea Park Road especially where dormice are London concerned. From Yorkshire SW8 4BG to Cheshire, Warwickshire to Surrey, people are turning www.ptes.org out to put up nest boxes, Tel: 020 7498 4533 plant hedgerows, coppice [email protected] woodlands and carry out Registered charity number 274206 box checks throughout the The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme is funded by PTES and Natural England. year. We hope you enjoy this The scientifi c work is based at Royal Holloway, University of London. edition of the monitor - don’t forget to look on the The Dormouse Monitor is compiled by Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi . back page for details of training courses and other Cover image kindly provided by John Webley. Printed by 4 Print on environmentally friendly paper. news - especially this year’s International Dormouse The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the People’s Trust for Conference in Saxony. Endangered Species.

Best regards

Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi

2 the dormouse monitor spring 2011

Yorkshire dormouse release update It’s now six years since 62 dormouse population in the same box that had been radiating out from the dormice were reintroduced woods is doing okay and used by a large female woods in 2011. into woodland near West that they are using natural dormouse in June so we Other records Tanfi eld and an extremely nest sites as well as the hope the dead juvenile’s from the woods at West dedicated group of boxes. Some of the original siblings survived and were Tanfi eld in 2010 include volunteers has been boxes became a bit old, elsewhere in the woods. roe deer, brown hare, wood monitoring the progress damp and -nibbled, Two of the October dormice mouse, common shrew and of the project. Almost 400 so PTES kindly provided were torpid, which was not pygmy shrew. The strangest dormouse boxes are checked some new ones. unexpected as the previous object we found in a box was three times each year In 2010 we found a total night had been very cold. a large, old bone (possibly and, although dormouse of nine dormice in the nest In addition to the dormice mammalian). We have no numbers declined over the boxes. Three dormice were themselves, we recorded 15 idea how or why the bone fi rst couple of years, they found in June, two of which dormouse nests in the boxes ended up there as it was too then seemed to stabilise, were fat, healthy females – in June, 12 in August and 23 large to have been carried up albeit at a fairly low level. hopefully ready to breed. In in October - further evidence by a small mammal. Strange During 2007 we found August we found two young of a population out in the things happen down in the eight dormice in the boxes, dormice at two diff erent woods. woods… seven in 2008 and nine in locations in the woods, The dormouse tubes which All that remains is to thank 2009. Although this may so possibly evidence of a were placed in the everyone who helped with seem low, all the dormice couple of successful litters, to the west of Heslett Wood the dormouse monitoring, have been in good health but neither of them from in spring 2009 were also especially the dedicated and we know that breeding anywhere near where the checked in October, but had volunteers who turn out for has occurred, as the odd females had been found in no evidence of dormouse every box check, whatever litter of young dormice has June. Finally, in the October activity. However, two of the weather. If you’d like to been recorded. In addition box check we found one the tubes were being used help please call fairly good numbers of large female dormouse, by roosting small birds, 0113 2811286 or email distinctive dormouse nests two well-grown youngsters judging by the piles of bird [email protected]. have been found in the and, unfortunately, a dead droppings we found. We are boxes each summer. This juvenile in a nest. The dead hoping to put some more Ann Hanson leads us to hope that the juvenile was found in the tubes along other hedges FWAG

Tribute to Jonathan Woods and colleagues, took over the management of the Michael Woods’ son, business from Michael. Jonathan, died tragically in a Since that point the business climbing accident this March. has gone from strength to strength, in no small part Since an early age Jonathan due to the enthusiasm and was a committed naturalist energy that Jonathan was and passionate about the able to add, not to mention conservation of wildlife, in his technical expertise in all particular British . things mammal! Growing up with both Mike Jonathan tragically and Doug Woods around it died whilst climbing in was almost impossible for Pembrokeshire. Climbing him to not become heavily was another great passion involved with dormice and of his and something that, dormouse conservation, just like his profession, though Jonathan also found he approached with the time to become highly great positivity, immense knowledgeable about enthusiasm, and badgers and a licensed bat considerable skill. He will be surveyor and handler. sorely missed by everyone He developed that passion who had the fortune to into his profession when he know him. joined his father at Michael Woods Associates. In 2009 Tom Clarkson

Jonathan,ANDREW HALCRO-JOHNSTON assisted by friends Michael Woods Associates

the dormouse monitor 3 spring 2011

Edge Wood study of dormice Edge Wood, in Shropshire, The wood has 11 coppice Dormouse in nest is part of Wolverton Wood coupes throughout it and tube in coupe 1 (5-6 year old coppice) on and Alcaston SSSI. This in early June 2010 we 30 October. 10ha wood is managed as hung 97 nest tubes up coppice with standards. We in seven of the coupes. decided to put nest tubes The tubes were placed up in the newly coppiced under branches which had coupes to see how quickly good aerial connectivity the dormice would begin to adjacent saplings and to use these areas and shrubs. They were mainly therefore help guide the hazel but we also put tubes overall management of up on holly, ash, , the wood. Currently the , bramble, small coupes within the wych elm and . The wood are coppiced every four coupes that weren’t eight years which provides surveyed had either been material for green wood coppiced too recently to including maple, oak, ash, fairly low occupancy rate: and coppice products. There have any shrub to attach the holly, silver , bramble only two nests were found are also some parts of the nest tubes to, were due for and hazel. In contrast the in 15 tubes. Unsurprisingly wood which are neglected coppice the next winter or two coupes that hadn’t been in coupe 9 (which had not hazel coppice and had very little shrub under a managed for some time been managed recently but plantation which will beech dominated canopy. (coupes 6b and 7) had a had a signifi cant amount of gradually be bought under Two coupes of fi ve and six dense canopy, with over- woodland edge habitat) we management in the future year old coppice (coupes 1 shadowed shrubs producing found slightly more nests too. and 2) both contained dense little fruit. than in the more overgrown Our main aim was to undergrowth consisting of Our results showed that sections of the wood. fi nd out if, and how soon, coppice shoots, saplings and 23 tubes out of the 97 Edge Wood is an important dormice would begin to bramble, with an abundant were used – an almost 25% site for dormice and the use patches of wood that food supply of blackberries, occupancy rate. In July, we population appears to be had been coppiced. If they Guelder rose berries and found three dormouse nests, healthy, judging from the did we wanted to also try hazel nuts. Coupe 3 (also in September a further eight numbers of nest tubes that and fi nd out which bits they fi ve year old coppice) had a tubes had nests in them were used in this survey. seemed to prefer and why. great range of shrub species and by October a further 12 This work has clearly tubes had nests. We found demonstrated the value of Nest tube (occupied in the greatest activity in the six coppice management, with July) on pendant ash year old coppice, followed by much greater and prolonged branch in coupe 4 (3-4 the fi ve year old coppice. The use of coppiced coupes year old coppice). two unmanaged sections apparent, at least in the had the lowest amounts summer and autumn, than in of nests recorded – one neglected coppice areas. per coupe in October. The most recently coppiced Kate Thorne and Robert section of the wood had a Thorne, Churton Ecology

The map shows the woodland coupes and the number of Unoccupied nest in tubes put up and coupe 3 (4-5 year old used by dormice. coppice) near fruiting holly on 30 October. ALL IMAGES KATE THORNE KATE ALL IMAGES 4 the dormouse monitor spring 2011

A long-term study of edible dormice, Bucks Introduced to Britain in name Siebenschlafer (‘seven were absent in 1902, the sleeper’). This pattern of non-masting hasn’t spread more than activity is similar to the years. Where about 20km from its , which had they been? DAVID SHUTE DAVID original release site due we also tend to fi nd in the We aren’t to the constraints of boxes from May onwards, sure but it is the surrounding open with higher numbers later possible that farmland. Locally, however, in the season – though the the dormice it has become a signifi cant numbers for Muscardinus were living in nuisance in the Chilterns. seem to peak in October nearby houses We decided to monitor in the boxes rather than since in 2001 the population in the mid September. and 2004 - 1990s using the same Edible dormice only breed when there technique that had proved in years when there is a was a failure of so successful with hazel high availability of food, both masting dormice. We erected wooden particularly beech mast. A and breeding - nest boxes on trees in a grid similar phenomenon has more than 400 throughout Hockeridge been reported between were Wood, Buckinghamshire. breeding success and beech taken by The wood consists mostly mast crops in Germany and control offi cers of beech trees, refl ecting Italy. Somehow the animals in contrast with the habitat edible dormice detect an environmental 2002, when are usually found in across cue at a large-scale level there was a Europe. There are also and that in turn infl uences conspicuous various deciduous and whether or not they breed mast crop, softwood species such as that year. It seems that they successful breeding and less afterwards and on average spruce and Scot’s pine. are conditioned by food than 10 animals removed 60% survived each year up A total of 110 larger quality when they come out from local houses. to eight years. So at least 12 wooden boxes were put up of and if the Hazel dormice have an animals that we recaptured in trees, 3m above ground, beech trees have few buds average of four to fi ve young had lived for at least eight in an area about 20-25ha. on them in early summer, per litter. In contrast we years, including two that We set up a monitoring the dormice do not come found throughout the study were more than nine years programme, checking the into breeding condition. This that the litter sizes of edible old when last seen. nest boxes once a month makes sense in that a lack of dormice varied enormously Our long-term study at from May to November buds also means that there between one and sixteen. It Hockeridge Wood has every year. The results in this will be a shortage of beech may be, though, that some confi rmed that forming article are based on the data mast later in the year and of the larger litters were in crèches, cohabiting, and we gathered between 1996 that the juveniles will not fact crèches of young from using the same nest boxes and 2008. During this time have enough food to fatten diff erent females, as quite year on year all appear to 1,145 animals were tagged, up suffi ciently to survive often the young seemed to be normal behaviour in of which almost half were hibernation. be two diff erent sizes and this species. It appears that caught again during the So, unlike the hazel at times there were two edible dormice compensate monitoring period. dormouse, the edible adult females present. What for the fact that they have People have reported dormouse doesn’t breed advantage they get from only one litter a year, and seeing edible dormice in every year. And it appears forming these crèches and fail to breed every year, by their homes as early as April the edible dormouse how the females cope with having an extraordinarily but we rarely found them uses the nest boxes larger numbers of young long life span for such a small in the nest boxes until June, predominantly for breeding. however is still unknown. mammal. This, combined sometimes May. The edible Consequently, throughout For a relatively small with their extremely short dormice don’t use nest our study, we had some , the edible dormouse active season and long boxes to hibernate in and individual animals that we has a surprisingly long periods of hibernation, make so, by November, very few didn’t pick up in a season life on average. By micro- it a unique creature. were present. This suggests and were sometimes absent chipping the animals we that they have an active for as many as three years were able to determine the Pat and Mary Morris period of about fi ve months before we found them again. rough age of the dormice Morris, P. & Morris, M. 2011 A here in the UK (with seven During masting years only that we recaptured. Of long-term study of the edible months in hibernation), as 5% of the animals known to the 426 animals that were dormouse in Britain. British in Continental Europe, and be alive were absent for the recaptured at least once Wildlife. 22. 153-161. refl ected in their German whole season, but up to 90% there was a high survival rate the dormouse monitor 5 spring 2011

Haslemere hedgerow project Surrey Dormouse Group nearby, further to the west. low bank of bracken and remaining fi eld boundary (SDG) has recently been Dormice are of course largely brambles along one section, using nest tubes, dormice working in partnership with arboreal, moving through and a thin tree line along were found in the tree line, PTES at a site near Haslemere the branches of trees and the other. Whilst dormice do but not in the defunct gappy in Surrey, to reconnect shrubs to avoid predators. use such features, they are boundary. two areas of ancient and Radio-tracking experiments unlikely to be suffi ciently With the agreement of the ancient replanted woodland in the 90s, and more recent biodiverse to provide landowner, we were able to respectively called Hurthill work, have shown that whilst the seasonal succession get work parties out before Copse and Holmen’s dormice are capable of of diff erent food sources spring to strip back and Grove, for the benefi t of crossing open ground, large generally accepted as being then substantially enhance dormice. Desktop research gaps in hedges and other benefi cial for them. They are the connecting hedgerow of historical maps, carried open expanses nonetheless most valuable as component by planting native tree and out by myself and Andy present a hindrance to their parts of a more structurally shrub species. In time, it is Cross, showed that the two dispersal and dissuade them and biologically diverse hoped that this planting will areas of woodland were from moving about freely arboreal habitat. The bank develop and create a much once connected by a strong to exploit food sources and concerned also grows low to stronger habitat corridor network of hedgerows and reach sites for breeding the ground and is not very between the two woodlands. tree lines that had long since and hibernation. This also wide, features which don’t The increased connectivity been removed. However potentially reduces gene encourage use by dormice. between the two woodlands their alignments can still fl ow and causes isolated Jim Jones of PTES has been should help to improve be seen as fi eld marks on populations to become running the Hedgerows for gene fl ow between the modern aerial photographs, inbred. Dormice project, which aims populations of dormice and match surprisingly well Due to the loss of the to identify opportunities for living in them, reducing the to the old maps. historical hedgerows the reconnecting fragmented chance of inbreeding and Dormice are known to be woodland areas we are areas of key dormouse making them less vulnerable present in good numbers working on are now located habitat. Fortunately for the to stochastic events that in Holmen’s Grove, where on either side of a large open dormice, when PTES and might cause localised SDG regularly monitors arable fi eld. These are joined SDG began discussions with extinction. them as part of the NDMP. only by a single tenuous fi eld the owners of the remaining We think that they are also boundary at the southern hedgerow, it transpired Ben Kite still living in Hurthill Copse, end, this comprising of a that they were sympathetic Surrey Dormouse Group which is good habitat, defunct hedgerow link that to their plight and keen to and are defi nitely present is becoming gappy with a help. Having surveyed the PTES

6 the dormouse monitor spring 2011

Warwickshire Dormouse Conservation Group The Warwickshire Dormouse We eventually foiled them Conservation Group (WDCG) with D-clips but only after was created in December we had posted up messages 2009 to support the to the public asking them objectives of our dormouse not to open the doors! LBAP, including fi nding out Our own fi eldwork began if we have more sites than in February with a ‘recce’ the one known natural at various woods and population at Weston Wood hedgerows in preparation and the reintroduction site. for updating the 1999 survey Since then the group has of Warwickshire woodlands grown to an impressive 41 by Natural England. This members plus 25 ‘friends’ recommended that the fi ve who receive our quarterly sites previously found to newsletters without being have evidence of dormice K MARTIN harassed for help with - chewed nuts - should be ABOVE: making Tetra Pak fi eldwork! We are also resurveyed but for various nest tubes. supported by Warwickshire reasons only two of these BELOW RIGHT: putting nest County Council’s Biological were selected, together with tubes up in the woods. BELOW LEFT: the WDCG. Records Centre. another three woods, one of Out fi rst meeting in January which had had a hibernating 2010 was to relocate 100 dormouse in 2009. A BSc nest boxes in preparation student investigating the use for the introduction of a of hedgerows by dormice second batch of dormice selected two adjacent to by PTES at Windmill Naps, Weston Wood for survey as following the initial release well. in 2009. This second release Meanwhile, back at base, took place in June 2010, 200 nest tubes were being followed by frequent feeding made out of Tetra Pak visits until September, cartons to supplement which got us several new those bought with a grant members as the presence from PTES. In early summer of hornets necessitated over 400 nest tubes were paired fi eldwork. The basic installed at the seven sites food mix was supplemented which did spoil a little the by mealworms, cherries, beautiful carpets of wood blueberries, grapes, pears anemones and bluebells! and of course hazel nuts. With few of our members provided us with having handling licences, a challenge as they opened monthly monitoring was J UNDERHILL the doors to the wire holding only possible at two of the found no evidence of use by Fieldwork involved 29 cages by chewing the cable sites and all the nest tubes dormice at any site although members in 55 visits to eight ties and even released some were retrieved after the fi nal the tubes were popular with locations, which is a fantastic hinged rings we used next. check in November. Sadly we wood mice and birds! commitment and led to During the summer our networking between people members were not idle. who otherwise would not In addition to feeding the have met. It has also initiated new dormice, those who two surveys by individual had not seen a dormouse members for 2011, one for assisted the FC Ranger an MSc degree. We plan to with the monthly box ‘nut hunt’ at the fi ve 1999 checks at Weston Wood but dormouse positive sites unfortunately no dormice or this spring to fi nalise our nests were found. updating of the NE report. Looking back on our fi rst year, despite fi nding no Ruth Moff att new dormouse sites, the [email protected]

DERRY HANRATTY DERRY group has had its successes. the dormouse monitor 7 spring 2011

First dormouse release Hailey Wood, Hertfor In 1981 whilst I was working were now enough animals run which was planted up then quarantined using strict as an animal keeper in to carry out a reintroduction. and contained branches hygiene procedures which Cameron Loch Lomond The site (Hailey Wood) that for the animals to scamper included always feeding Wildlife Park in Scotland, I was chosen was a seven along. these two groups fi rst to made a decision to breed hectare oak and The animals chosen for prevent contamination from rare British animals and wood with a diversity of the release consisted of the other animals. Each attempt to reintroduce them other plants and a species two family groups. The of the animals was then into safe, selected habitats. rich shrubby undergrowth. A fi rst contained two adult physically checked by the vet The following year, when thick also led from the females, with two newly before being confi rmed fi t I moved south to work at wood into a huge expanse of emerged juveniles; the for release. Chessington Zoo, I obtained woodland where in time, we second an adult male and A release cage was built in my fi rst three dormice, hoped, the dormice would a female with fi ve newly the chosen wood, measuring trapped under licence for me migrate. emerged juveniles. I felt 3 x 3.5 x 2m, over growing by Owen Newman, a wildlife My captive-bred colony that it was important that vegetation, with two feeding cameraman working for the of dormice at Windsor was the juveniles were used due shelves placed on either side BBC. I managed and added housed in a long wooden to the learning that takes of the cage. Over each shelf to the captive stock until building divided into eight place in their early days. we created a feeding hatch, I had 97 animals by 1991. compartments, each housing The animals were prepared through which we could By now we were living at a male and a female, or by being given branches put fresh food and remove Windsor Safari Park where two females and one male, to feed on from the plants the old remains. Then on veterinary help and advice depending on the perceived that they would fi nd in the 28 August 1992 the two was generously given by Dr. personality of the animals. Hertfordshire wood where family groups were taken, John Lewis. Each of the compartments they were going to be in their nest boxes, to the As originally intended there led out into a large outdoor released. The animals were site and the boxes fi xed on

DORMOUSE RELEASE PROTOCOLS: Since 1992 17 captive-bred populations of dormice have been released across the Midlands and the north of England. The methodology has been refi ned and the following guidelines are used to give the dormice the greatest chance possible: • woods of at least 20ha are chosen to ensure a viable population will survive in the long-term • 40+ dormice are health-screened • a minimum of 30 animals are released to account for losses of captive-bred animals that have a lower survival rate than wild ones • animals are taken to the release site in June in the hope that the pairs breed in time for their young to fatten up before the winter hibernation • dormice are paired up and put into 15 release cages, throughout the wood • animals are microchipped so in the following years individual survival can be monitored. NICK BINNIE JOHN WEBLEY 8 the dormouse monitor spring 2011 ordshire, 1992 opposite sides of the cage. TOP: one large release cage Lights had been fi tted to the was constructed to house top of the cage so that we two dormouse families. could observe the animals’ BOTTOM: the breeding behaviour. We had help from facilities for the captive-bred dormice included inside and 16 A-level students from outside space. Haileybury College, working under the guidance of Julian EATON DOT IMAGES BOTH Ford-Robertson. Almost four weeks later, on 23 September at 7:30pm, a hatch was opened to enable the dormice to venture out into the wild. And less than three hours later the fi rst animal ran up a branch that had been propped on the feeding shelf out to an overhanging branch outside. It then returned almost immediately to the security of the cage but by 11.00pm all the animals had gone. A radio-collar had been fi tted to one animal and we discovered that he ranged up to 35m from the release cage. Until the collar was removed on 29 September, he had returned to the cage almost every morning and spent the day in one of the nest boxes. We continued to provide supplementary food until all the dormice had disappeared into hibernation. We monitored the animals’ activity by placing nest boxes and milk cartons full of shredded paper throughout the wood. The adults disappeared quickly but we continued to fi nd four of the youngsters until the end of October. The next year we released were transferred to Burnham future of the dormouse will Veterinary Group Practice. a further group of dormice , Corporation be safe in the hands of those Those involved in the 1992 to increase the gene pool. of London. In 1995 the who have taken over this reintroduction were Martin And in 2010, some 18 years Common Dormouse innovative work, including Hicks, (who advised on the after the fi rst reintroduction Captive Breeders Group PTES, the members of the ecology), Professor John of hazel dormice into British (CDCBG) was set up and CDCBG, Paignton Zoo, ZSL Gurnell (who advised on the woodlands, signs of dormice each year several dormouse and the owners, volunteers animals’ behaviour), Julian are still being found in Hailey breeders contribute animals and monitors in those woods Ford-Robertson and Steve Wood – our fi rst release site. for release. To date 17 across the country looking Whitbred. A wonderful achievement! reintroductions have been after the dormice day to day. The year after the carried out throughout During the breeding Dot Eaton Haileybury reintroduction, England, involving hundreds project, veterinary help Project Leader Windsor Safari Park closed of enthusiastic volunteers. was given by Dr. John and my captive animals It seems, we hope, that the Lewis of International Zoo the dormouse monitor 9 spring 2011

Shooters are leading on a new hazel dormou Shooters are leading on a placed to help preserve it. The Southwest Cheshire successful and the project new project in partnership The Dormouse Conservation Dormouse Project will link the habitat from the with the local BAP group Handbook lists some of Dormouse distribution Wych Valley into southwest and PTES. On the face of the benefi ts that shooting is strongest in the south Cheshire to help dormice it you may be wondering provides for the hazel of England and south spread from their current where the link is. Dormice dormouse and these include: Wales, with more sporadic location up to the sandstone are not quarry species so • the shooting season populations in a rough line ridge, which has a high some cynical types might (autumn and winter) from north Wales and across connectivity of woodland question why the British encourages late season the Midlands. In Cheshire the and hedgerow habitats. Association for Shooting which means only confi rmed dormouse The project contributes and Conservation (BASC) dormice can fully utilise the population is a released towards the climate change would want to be part nut crop before hibernating population in the Wych agenda too as it will provide of a plan for them, never • sympathetic ride Valley in the southwest. a functioning ecological mind lead it. There are two management which benefi ts However BASC has found network not just for dormice reasons, the fi rst is altruistic: both dormice and game dormouse nests in two other but for a range of bat, other shooters like to help create a shooting is more likely to be sites nearby in landscape which is brimming found on shooting estates recent years. The green boundary shows with wildlife because that • deer may be managed in In 2010 BASC the proposed route of the linkages. It was selected to engagement with general some woodlands to preserve submitted a link biodiverse woodlands nature is an important habitat in favourable funding bid to and enable dormouse part of the enjoyment of condition for dormice and the SITA Trust populations to build up fi eld sports. The second is this is done by trained to provide a before moving further along the network. practical: the habitat that stalkers grant for a new supports game and rough • control of grey squirrels project called shooting is extremely similar by shoots, to limit damage to the Southwest to that required by dormice. feeders for pheasants and to Cheshire It is primarily for these decrease predation pressure Dormouse reasons that shooters and on breeding woodland birds, Project. The BASC are keen to see this reduces the level of food funding bid for mammal thrive and are well competition for dormice. £83,911 was

ManManageaga menm ntto offw woododds witw h pheahheeasansasa t shooooo tst cancac n beb beb nefin cic ala forfofo dordoorrmimicm ce,e forffoor exexampaamm lel inn terte msm off sympatthete icc rididde managment. NIDA AL NIDA FULAIJ 10 the dormouse monitor spring 2011 ouse project in Cheshire mammal, insect, fungi and Sue Tatman of Cheshire plant species which require Wildlife Trust and Ben Gregory such networks to move of BASC have been working north. together on dormouse conservation projects for This project forms a several years. major part of the Cheshire Dormouse Strategy, itself a product of the Cheshire local BAP of which BASC is BASC THIS PAGE MAP & IMAGES a core member through its

Pheasants and dormice have similar preferences: lots of shrubby cover within woodlands.

Green Shoots programme syndicate on the land or a Trust’s MOREwoods scheme in key habitats at selected (www.basc.org.uk/en/ local group who have access and a budget of £36,000 locations on the route. conservation/green-shoots). to the land. These volunteers from SITA for us to use where We will get our trained The project formally started are a key part of the project’s there are no other viable volunteers to adopt these on 14 February this year. aim to leave a network options. boxes and monitor them for We are using the current of trained and motivated autumn nests at the back best practice guidelines volunteers who will continue Creating the legacy end of winter. They will pass for connecting dormouse to manage and monitor the Each site where we agree their results back to BASC habitat and benefi ting habitats after the project to create a habitat linkage and the Cheshire region from the experience of ends. feature will be given a Biodiversity Partnership. the Hedgerows for Dormice We will use trained management plan to project managed by volunteers and offi cer time achieve and then maintain Finally PTES. This recommends to survey the hedgerows favourable conditions in the This is an ambitious project. establishing at least two and woodlands along long term. We will establish a We are looking to create a hedgerow connections the proposed route and system where we get trained linked network of hedgerows between each key woodland, immediate surrounding volunteers to adopt a linkage some 17km long, which both to increase the speed area. This detailed data will feature and report on its will have stepping stones at which dormice colonise enable the project to target condition to BASC and the of BAP woodland habitat to new woodlands and to work to determine the Cheshire region Biodiversity permit dormouse numbers safeguard against one route condition of existing habitat, Partnership. This is vital so to build up before the next becoming defunct. As part rehabilitate damaged habitat that we have local people trek northwards. However, of the bidding process we (gapping up for example) who are interested in the with a strong partnership identifi ed the routes which and create habitat in the habitat provided through behind the project, including we will validate through correct locations. The fi nal the project and will look PTES, and excellent interest surveying in the coming route on each landholding after it in the long-term. from local landowners and months. will be agreed with the This is brought into sharp shooters we are set to be The success of the project landowner and a funding focus when you realise the successful. relies heavily upon recruiting mechanism identifi ed. dormice may take a few and training local volunteers, These will vary from private decades to move along the Ian Danby ideally linked to the land, funds, the English Woodland full length of the network! BASC such as the landowner, Grant Scheme, Higher Level Finally, we will create a Head of Biodiversity Projects tenant, the shooting Stewardship, the Woodland network of dormouse boxes the dormouse monitor 11 spring 2011

Underpasses for dormice? I can hear the tone of the bridge. This certainly incredulity as you read seems possible with bridges the title of this article: like the two on the right. ‘You cannot be serious!’ This led to the thought However amidst all the talk that since it is dark when of bridges for dormice I think dormice are active, they it is well worth considering are not very likely to be put alternatives, particularly if off going through a large they are cheap and easy to tunnel if given suitable install. encouragement. I was also There is no question that conscious that on a few the best way to ensure that occasions I had installed a dormouse populations on dormouse nest tube, or box, either side of a large road on a post and rail fence. I are not isolated from one see no reason why dormice another is to build a ‘green wouldn’t run along the rails bridge’. Ideally these should beside a hedge or wood, so be large enough to be why not extend it under the planted up with trees and road? shrubs and to allow other People who build and wildlife such as deer, , maintain roads are very badgers and hedgehogs to reluctant to attach anything use them as well. We know to them that is likely to get that they work so why don’t in the way, or need much we build more of them? The maintenance. However, answer, of course, is cost. bolting a few rails to the wall Various cheaper of a minor road, pedestrian alternatives have been or agricultural underpass CHANIN PAUL IMAGES BOTH tried, though these too seems unlikely to cause too This idea was put into problem in that we need to can be very expensive. A much consternation. My practice under the A30 allow time for the habitat on £190,000 ‘dormouse bridge’ original idea was to simply between Bodmin and Indian either side to develop too. was recently constructed in extend the rails underneath Queens in Cornwall (below This work was done under Wales amidst quite a lot of the bridge (below), making right). Notice that dormouse the terms of a dormouse controversy. This was over sure that suitable habitat habitat has been planted up licence and was accepted as a road which I know that was planted as close to it as to the underpass (this one part of a mitigation plan for dormice would be willing possible. I also thought that is designed for agricultural construction of the road. It to cross on foot - I have putting some wire mesh uses) linking it to existing would be good if it could be tracked them doing it in the over them might help the habitat nearby. Also note tried in other places as well - southwest. dormice feel more protected. the creeper used to link this and monitored over time. Some years ago, with the rails. Paul Gregory Next - fl yovers for badgers! after discovering that recommended putting the dormice were living in rails higher than I originally Paul Chanin woodland isolated by intended which isn’t likely Mammal Ecologist the network of roads to worry the dormice but which form the junction reduces vulnerability to of the A303 and M3 in passing tractors, cyclists, Hampshire, colleagues cows etc. suggested that they As yet, we don’t know might creep underneath whether it works...but nor do we know if rope bridges over roads work either. It is cheap, low maintenance and seems at least as likely to work as some of the other suggestions that have been made. Eff orts are being made to try and detect dormice (using hair tubes) but there is a bit of a PAUL CHANIN PAUL WILSON URS/SCOTT GREGORY, PAUL 12 the dormouse monitor spring 2011

Dormouse activity on the A30 in Cornwall Despite not having the fragments of road verge diverse structure or habitat can be used by ecological complexity of dormice and that they many NDMP sites, road successfully breed in patches verges have become an smaller than one hectare important dormouse habitat surrounded by roads. The in Devon and Cornwall and use of microchips allowed they are proving able to us to identify individual support healthy populations dormice, detect movements ALL IMAGES LEONARDO GUBERT ALL IMAGES with densities comparable to of recaptured animals non-roadside locations. and establish that certain Large-scale planting of individuals were able to native species of trees and travel across the carriageway shrubs occurred in the 1980s and 90s along newly built motorways and trunk of those reservation including Roadie, roads in England and Wales. that liked a sleepy 35g male found last This provided dormice to hit the October. The presence of today with reliable food road and dormice in such an unusual supplies and the means venture place caught the attention to disperse through the on open of the BBC’s The One Show, wider landscape. As these ground which commissioned an species-rich belts of trees in search article on the A38 dormice as and shrubs, small woodland of a new part of a wildlife series called plots and scrub mature, horizon. Out of Bounds screened on the benefi ts to wildlife This new the 23 November. in general are starting to site, of Studying populations show especially at urban around such as this one helps us and semi-urban locations 3ha, is understand how dormice or alongside agricultural much (and other species) are land. Despite the noise, bigger making use of these vibration and intense light than the man-made habitats that spillage, roadside dormice to explore habitats at the A30 central reservation and are literally scattered in seem to respond well and other side (further details includes a mosaic of habitats. abundance across the animal weight and breeding about this study will soon be These include patches of country. What I am trying to patterns are comparable to released). heathland, bramble scrub, fi nd out at the moment is other non-road NDMP sites I Puzzled with the conifer plantation, semi why this central reservation monitor. information I decided to mature deciduous trees, rank along a very busy road is so In the past four years our investigate another central and amenity grassland, not popular with dormice. Is it study along the central reservation in Devon within to mention an old lime kiln lack of or low interspecifi c reservation on the A30 known dormouse territory, inhabited by a lone traveller competition (such as with near Bodmin in Cornwall hoping to fi nd dormouse not too long ago when trunk grey squirrels), lower level has shown that even small evidence and establish roads were not as busy and of predation or the fact that that the ability to inhabit access was not exclusive to there is no public access? fragmented habitats was those specifi cally trained or Or might it be that they not unique to the Bodmin others with serious suicidal are indeed islanded and population. In 2008 I found tendencies. reluctant to cross the road three natural nests and Monitoring these boxes making the whole site a managed to erect 30 nest can be noisy during the metapopulation sink? boxes in September and by rush hour but results are The study is not so simple the end of October I came great and a close encounter because of the costs and across a few nests and three is guaranteed. There has Health & Safety constraints dormice, one adult and two been evidence of breeding that come with working on juveniles. The presence of and new recruits have been high speed roads. There is juveniles was encouraging as recorded ever since the still a lot to fi nd out and I will they were either local to the boxes went up. In 2010, keep you updated. site, which meant that there there were either dormice were successful breeding or nests in 26 boxes out of Leonardo Gubert attempts, or they were some the 30 installed in the central the dormouse monitor 13 spring 2011

Survival rates of hibernating Glis glis One of the current central factors, such as climate, will average lifespan was nine the populations in the early themes in the study of all impact on the animals. years. The two factors Karin summer, higher in the late ecology is determining what Karin and her team set out to considered most important summer and highest during factors explain the changes determine which factors, or in aff ecting the mortality of hibernation in winter. In in the number of individuals which combination of them, the dormice in years when the years that the Glis glis in a given population. had most impact on diff erent they were reproducing reproduced their survival The birth, migration and populations of dormice and were a possible increase in rates dropped, whilst at mortality rates will all aff ect if this varied across their predation whilst the parents all study sites, in both the population dynamics. range. were out foraging, and reproductive and non- Furthermore factors such as Unlike other small the likelihood of increased reproductive years, females how successful individuals mammals, edible dormice mortality during hibernation had higher survival rates are at reproduction (heavily do not reproduce each year. due to insuffi cient energy than males. reliant on external factors They only produce litters in reserves. The high survival rates like the availability of years where trees mast or Karin collated the data from of the animals over winter energy-rich food) will also fruit. Their breeding success fi ve study sites in England, whilst they are hibernating vary between individuals is heavily reliant on the Germany, Italy, Austria and clearly shows that they rarely within a population. Karin availability of foodstuff s such the Czech Republic. All the die from starvation due to Lebl and her team decided as beech mast and acorns, study sites are dense, semi- insuffi cient energy reserves. to look at mortality rates in and previous studies have natural mixed forests, mostly Their higher mortality in edible dormice using data shown that the dormice can dominated by beech, except early summer is likely to collected from fi ve diff erent predict a mast year and don’t the Czech wood which was be due to a higher level of sites across Europe. By reproduce in years when dominated by oak. Data predation and also the fact collating data from diff erent the trees aren’t fruiting. In were collected from marking that they have a harder studies she could look at years when Glis glis are not or chipping animals which time fi nding enough food what similarities and what reproducing the evidence were caught in wooden to meet their bodies’ energy diff erences occur in the shows that survival rates are nest boxes placed in linear demands. These factors are variation in vital rates (in twice as high, indicating a or grid systems throughout likely to be compounded in particular survival) - both strong trade-off between the woodlands. The number reproductive years and lead temporally and spatially - in reproduction and their own of nest boxes at the sites to higher levels of mortality the edible dormouse; with future survival. Consequently varied between 100 and 200, in all the populations. the hope of uncovering the frequency of mast whilst the number of animals Although Karin and her some interesting results. seeding events aff ects the studied ranged from just colleagues found that Several diff erent factors lifespan of the animals. over 300 to over 1300. the populations of edible work both individually For instance the German The results showed that dormice exhibited the same and together to aff ect the population of Glis glis that there was a clear seasonal features in terms of when mortality of edible dormice. were studied had an average pattern in the survival mortality was highest, they The availability of food, life span of over three years, rates of edible dormice. also found that there were predation and abiotic whilst in northern Italy the Survival was lowest for all considerable diff erences in ALL IMAGES BLACKMOOR COPSE DORMOUSE TEAM COPSE DORMOUSE BLACKMOOR ALL IMAGES PETER GRIMSEY 14 the dormouse monitor spring 2011

the average survival rates of edible dormice, leading to diff erences in mean lifetime reproductive success between the populations too. For instance the lifetime reproductive success of an animal in England was calculated to be 7.6 juveniles, whilst in Germany the number of juveniles likely to survive over a female’s lifetime was only 4.7, and in the Italian Alps 8.5. Karin’s results suggest that edible dormice have adapted well to maximising their chances of high lifetime reproductive success despite DAVID SHUTE DAVID their reliance on habitats that have infrequent and during hibernation, summer mortality rates. Lebl, K., Bieber, C., Adamík, unpredictable food sources. however, leads the dormice Interestingly the species P., Fietz, J., Morris, P., Pilastro, They also survive well during to increased periods of which predominantly prey A. and Ruf, T.(2010) Survival hibernation – possibly foraging in early summer on Glis (such as tawny rates in a small hibernator, because their hibernacula which arguably makes and Eurasian eagle owls) rear the edible dormouse: a are relatively secure from them more susceptible to their young in early summer comparison across Europe. predators. Losing up to predation and therefore and have increased energetic Ecography, no. doi: 10.1111/ 30% of their body weight could explain their high early demands during this period. j.1600-0587.2010.06691.x

AN EASY WAY TO REDUCE identifi cation of animals PIT-TAG LOSS IN RODENTS in the fi eld. Currently the loss rate of tags varies Much of what we have between diff erent species learned about dormice and in rodents the loss can (hazel and edible) and be as high as 7.2%. What other species over the years usually happens is that the has been thanks to our transponders emigrate out ability to mark individual of the body through the animals. These capture- puncture wound shortly mark-recapture studies have after the tag has been enabled us to track their injected in and before the movements, learn how far wound has healed. anaesthetic. Animals tags had been lost if they they range, or how long Karin Lebl and her team that hadn’t previously caught them again within a they can live in the wild and decided to try and test the been captured had a couple of months of being more. The current preferred use of tissue adhesive to PIT-tag injected dorsally tagged. The loss rate of tags method for marking seal the puncture wound towards the head, so the in 2007 dropped to just individuals is PIT-tagging. and compare the loss rates transponder was located 2.2%, which means that this This involves inserting a of PIT-tags with and without on the upper back. In 2006 kind of study can be made microchip into an animal, the adhesive. They had a the team lost 7.4% of the even more accurate and and the unique barcode can study site in Austria where tags, so the second year more detailed information then be read with a hand- they were monitoring edible they started using the tissue about the animals can be held reader, scanned over dormice. Using a cone- glue to seal the wound. At obtained. the animal’s body. shaped cotton sack, with a the same time they marked PIT – or passive integrated lengthwise hook and loop the animals by clipping Lebl, K. and Ruf, T. (2010) An transponder – tags are fastener, Karin was able to a small wisp of tail hair. easy way to reduce PIT-tag relatively easy to apply and capture, mark and measure This meant Karin could loss in rodents. Ecol Res 25; allow an unambiguous the animals without using identify animals whose 251-253. PAUL BARROW PAUL the dormouse monitor 15 spring 2011

The effects of habitat loss and fragmentatio Both habitat loss and habitat – is often provided on deciduous oak woodland, squares or blocks with fragmentation are commonly farmland by hedgerows. This however the land-type contrasting confi guration regarded as being among too can play a major part in varied signifi cantly from and contrasting levels of the greatest threats to global how suitable an area is for extensive cereal cultivations connectedness. Landscapes biodiversity. These two diff erent animals – by itself dominating the plain and with extremely low levels distinct processes, however, and in conjunction with coastal areas and orchards of connectedness (no are often misleadingly and other factors such as extent of olive groves, hazel nuts hedgerows) were selected ambiguously both referred of woodland cover. and vineyards being more only for low levels of to under the term habitat This study sought to dominant in the upland hilly forest cover (<15%) as fragmentation. Whilst determine what – or what areas. The central, south we were unable to fi nd the eff ects of both are combination of - factors east and south west areas them for higher levels. understood to have negative most aff ected dormice in the also contain large urban Such an experimental outcomes on many of our Italian landscape: habitat settlements. Across the design allowed us to species and ecosystems, loss, habitat fragmentation, landscape there is a system separate the independent T it is crucial to identify the and changes in structural of relatively well-connected eff ect of habitat loss from b impacts separately to connectivity. In this case hedgerows, quite narrow fragmentation and also from a ensure the most eff ective it was the amount of (often less than 5m wide) connectivity. I conservation measures are hedgerows. composed of thick scrub We surveyed for dormice s put in place. Unlike previous studies vegetation such as bramble, using 745 wooden nest e Many factors are at play in that have focussed primarily hawthorn, dog rose and oak. boxes spaced at least s determining how suitable a on birds, this particular one We selected large 4 x 4km 70m apart and checked t landscape is in supporting looked at these eff ects on blocks or landscape squares four times in the spring/ r populations of species. two arboreal mammals: so that they were likely to summer and three times the o These include the extent of hazel dormice and red contain populations of the following autumn/winter. o habitat (e.g. forest cover), squirrels. Both species are two target species. The Ten landscape blocks were the composition of the known to be sensitive to the squares were then divided surveyed from spring 2006 v landscape (proportion of loss and fragmentation of into diff erent categories to spring 2007 and the T diff erent land-type uses), forest habitat. In particular according to several diff erent remaining 31 from spring m the geography and physical we sought to establish the factors. These included the 2008 to spring 2009. U environment and how value of hedgerows as a amount of forest cover, Using a protocol we’d a diff erent types of habitat conservation measure and how patchy and clustered developed previously we T within the landscape (e.g. so we explored whether together each of these forest determined the number of o woodland cover) are laid out. the infl uence of structural patches were, the amount of nest boxes we would need p For example the number of connectivity provided by hedgerows in the landscape to ensure detection with l patches of woodland and hedges varies depending on and how well connected the a high degree of certainty. b the clumping or aggregation the amount of forest habitat various patches of forest in This included looking at of those patches will aff ect in the landscape. the landscape were. For each factors such as survey eff ort the species that are able Our study area was located of the following amounts of and patch size and enabled to live in that landscape. in central Italy, covering an forest cover in the landscape us to put out no more than The structural connectivity area of 18,000km2 divided (<5%, 5-10%, 10-15%, 15- 15 boxes or tubes in each – or physical continuity of into 41 4 x 4km blocks. Each 20%, 20-40%, 40-80%), we woodland patch at a density elements in the landscape of these blocks contained chose pairs of landscape of roughly 1/ha. Within each

Small sized habitat patch inn MedMe icagog satattivai aggriccultulltlturaurral matmaatatrixririx. ALESSIO MORTELLITI 16 the dormouse monitor spring 2011 ion on dormice in central Italy Forest patch These results are also surrounded consistent with results of by a recently studies on bird species. The harvested corn fi eld. total amount of habitat is an important driver in the

ALESSIO MORTELLITI occurrence of species in the agricultural landscape. This study did not have time to look at other key issues, which are relevant for future studies. The quality and structure of forest patches will also impact There are important diff erences on how useful a habitat is between rural landscapes in the UK for diff erent species, as do and Italy. Oak woodland patches in the structure and internal Italy may be particularly rich in shrub characteristics of hedgerows. species and potentially closer to the For the conservation of ecological optimum for dormice. Early species in the landscape studies have shown that females in further studies should this type of habitat have a higher focus on the dynamics of reproductive level – often an average landscape square. for the red squirrel. colonization, extinction of eight in a litter, compared to litters After our fi rst fi eldwork As the amount of habitat and general population of fi ve to six in other habitat types. season we were confi dent available for dormice is trends to determine, for Meanwhile hedges in Italy are that sampling the two crucial then preserving example, if landscapes with very diff erent to those in the UK. largest forest patches was existing habitat and low amounts of habitat are There is no tradition of the type of suffi cient to reduce the risk restoring poor quality working as large-scale sinks. management that is often used in the of false absences in the data habitat should be a Worryingly if this were the UK. Italian hedges can be very narrow at the landscape level. conservation priority. The case increasing hedgerow and may not necessarily include trees. The survey results second most important connectivity to such areas They are often monospecifi c lines showed that hazel dormice factor is the amount could be facilitating the of shrubs that may be cut during were present in 29 of the of hedgerows: but the fl ow of individuals into a ploughing, which are frequently 41 landscapes squares structural connectivity ‘landscape trap’. However located near small rivers or at the surveyed. Analysing these will only benefi t dormice these results provide border of land properties. results along with the data where there is already strong empirical evidence about landscape type and moderate forest cover that halting habitat loss make-up confi rmed that available in the landscape. and carrying out habitat block surveyed the number the probability of fi nding Although restoring habitat restoration should be of woodland patches hazel dormice was related to is more expensive than conservation priorities, sampled increased with the both the amount of habitat implementing a network of taking into account amount number of patches present. available and how well it was hedgerows, when there are of forest cover when carrying So in a landscape with no connected. In other words low amounts of forest cover out hedgerow restoration fragmented woodland we hazel dormouse presence left in the landscape (i.e. less too. sampled just one patch, increased with the amount than 5-10%) then habitat but in largely fragmented of forest cover and the restoration is the most Alessio Mortelliti, alessio. areas we sampled up to six increased connectivity of the eff ective strategy. Improving [email protected] diff erent patches to give a forest patches by hedgerows. the amount of connectivity good coverage across the Looking at the results in between patches of Mortelliti A., Amori G., landscape square. In total more detail confi rmed that woodland is an eff ective Capizzi D., Cervone C., 110 patches of wood were habitat amount, rather than measure for conservation Fagiani S., Pollini B., Boitani sampled. Where more than habitat fragmentation, is the in the landscape where at L. 2011. Independent one patch of wood was main driver of distribution least moderate amounts eff ects of habitat loss, surveyed we always included patterns for both the hazel of habitat remain. Habitat habitat fragmentation and the two largest patches of dormouse and the red fragmentation in turn landscape connectivity woodland. Where three or squirrel. And – as predicted – plays a more minor role in on the distribution of two more patches were sampled a network of hedgerows also determining distribution arboreal rodents. Journal the remaining patches were plays an important part in patterns as long as those of Applied Ecology 48 (1): selected so as to give the determining the distribution woodland patches were 153-162. doi: 10.1111/j.1365- best coverage across the of dormice – though less so connected by hedgerows. 2664.2010.01918.x the dormouse monitor 17 spring 2011

The behaviour of dormice in hedgerows with ga Linear habitats, such as and resting sites in order to the structure of the corridor. high, 2.45m wide and 303m hedgerows, are thought to be attractive to dormice, in He also wanted to see how long connecting two small help animals move across particular if they were able dormice move in non- woodlands. The uncut hedge areas of land that may to act as ‘stepping stones’ for corridor habitats such as included extensive patches otherwise be inhospitable. longer passages of dispersal. grassy fi elds, as they form a of bramble with fl owers. Hedgerows may help Previous research by major part of our landscape. Although the hedges were increase the rates of Paul and Pat Morris at Twelve dormice were caught diff erent in size and presence dispersal between patches RHUL confi rmed that hazel (11 male, one female) and of food, they were similar of habitat and therefore help dormice are highly arboreal fi tted with miniature radio in terms of their species dormice colonise new areas and are often found in small collars. Each of the dormice diversity and composition. of woodland or scrubby woodlands which are well was kept over the summer of Both hedgerows contained habitat. If this is the case connected by hedgerows, 1995 and released at three several gaps, which were then hedges are vital for but are rare in areas where diff erent trial sites in turn. grouped into three types the survival of species in hedgerows are scarce. In These sites were between 1.4 according to how wide they fragmented habitats. Paul order to restore dormice and 2.6km from where they were: 1m, 3m or 6+m. The Bright, from Royal Holloway, to their former range it is were caught. width of gaps and how they University of London (RHUL), very important that we The fi rst site was a cut were dispersed throughout decided to see what factors understand the relationships hedgerow on average the hedgerows were similar increase use of hedges by between their dispersal 1.5m high, 1.9m wide and in both hedges. The third dormice. Do dormice use and hedgerows so that 256m long, running from site was a grassy fi eld, which hedgerows as protection we can ensure the right a small patch of woodland contained no animals and from predators? Do the conservation strategies are and ending in an open which was kept cut to 20- hedges provide navigational put in place. fi eld. Any shrub fl owers 30cm high throughout the clues? Continuity or gaps Paul set up an experiment on the hedge that may experiment. will infl uence the quality of on the Isle of Wight to look have provided food for the Two hours before sunset the hedge as a corridor. Paul at how dormice move in dormice were artifi cially the dormice were taken also decided to investigate a natural setting and to removed as they matured. to the trial sites in nest whether longer corridors see how their patterns of The second site was an uncut boxes, which were either might need to provide food movement are aff ected by hedge on average 4.4m fi xed to branches within

Thick, continuous hedgerows can provide food and shelter for species such as dormice as they disperse across the countryside. PTES

18 the dormouse monitor spring 2011 gaps the hedgerows or put on Whilst dormice at all release the ground in the fi eld and sites travelled a similar covered with a dense layer amount of total distance of branches to provide those released in the fi eld cover for the emerging moved further on each move animals. Every animal was and lost signifi cantly more then radio-tracked until body mass than the animals dawn. Each dormouse was in the hedges. The behaviour released at each of the three of the dormice placed in sites in turn. Trials were a grass fi eld may not have suspended on nights when been completely natural the vegetation was wet or as they were placed in a there was a full moon in habitat that they might not case either infl uenced the enter even when dispersing. behaviour of the dormice. However the animals did The team were able to track leave their nest boxes and the dormice silently, using the protective covering headphones, and getting provided by the branches PTES within 5m of the dormice of their own volition. demonstrate that non suggest that reinstating were able to pinpoint their Subsequent behaviour corridor habitat does not management – especially location to within 1m, every thus at least demonstrates present a complete barrier fi lling in the gaps, may two minutes. their potential to move in even to a highly arboreal increase rates of successful The dormice were clearly non corridor habitat and species. dispersal by dormice. averse to moving on the they were clearly capable This study provides some ground and didn’t readily of rapid movement across of the fi rst experimental The above article is a cross hedgerow gaps. In the ground despite the fact evidence that gaps may summary of the following both the cut and uncut that they are well adapted constrain the movement of paper. Bright, P. W. 1998. hedgerows dormice for a life in the trees, with dormice in habitat corridors. Behaviour of specialist approached the gaps (i.e. their grasping feet and A tolerable gap width species in habitat corridors: came to within 1m of the tendon-locking mechanisms will probably depend on arboreal dormice avoid gap) 43 times. There was a that help them climb under the spatial scale at which corridor gaps. Animal highly signifi cant diff erence branches. The fact that whilst the species perceives the Behaviour. 56:1485-1490. in the frequency with which the dormice were on the landscape and the structural gaps of diff erent widths were ground they tended to have contrast between the The paper has been crossed. Gaps of 1m were longer lengths of movement corridor and gap vegetation. interpreted by Nida Al Fulaij. crossed 55% of the time, and only brief periods spent Many hedgerows in Britain gaps of 3m were crossed still suggests they were are currently unmanaged only 6% of the time and gaps exhibiting ‘escape behaviour’. and discontinuous, and of 6+m weren’t crossed at all. However the results also the results of this study Dormice also travelled further, faster and turned Even smalm l gapss in more frequently within the hedgerowswsw cac nnc creare tee cut rather than the uncut a barrr ierer for anan arbooreaeal species such ass tht eeh hazel hedge. The availability dormouse. of food within a hedge is obviously important for dormice and the increased movement in the cut hedge was likely to be the result of the dormice looking for food. For animals with low fasting endurance a lack of food in a corridor will make it less useful. The dormice that were released in the fi eld spent signifi cantly less total time stationary than when

released in hedgerows. PTES the dormouse monitor 19 spring 2011

Training courses and news J INTERNATIONAL accommodation is available PTES will be running two interest as well as those DORMOUSE for 130 delegates. How to Manage Woods for working towards their CONFERENCE SAXONY More details can be found Dormice courses taught by Dormouse Handling Licence. SEPTEMBER 2011 The at www.senckenberg.de/ Dr. Pat Morris. On Monday The course includes a visit 8th International Dormouse IDC8 or email 10 October the course will to check nest boxes and, Conference, hosted by the [email protected] be held in Surrey and on under some circumstances, Senckenberg Museum of Tuesday 25 October in East the opportunity to handle Natural History Goerlitz, will J TRAINING Sussex. For further details dormice under supervision. be held in Ostritz, Germany COURSES 2011 Cheshire and a booking form please Call 02380 237 874 or email from 22 -27 September 2011. Wildlife Trust (CWT) will contact Susan on Alex for more info Topics of the conference be running Dormouse 020 7498 4533 or email [email protected]. are the results of dormouse Ecology and Conservation [email protected]. research, such as physiology, on Saturday 1 October, at Wildwood Trust in Kent runs morphology, ecology, Bickley Hall Farm, Cheshire. The Mammal Society a Dormouse Handling and behaviour, palaeontology or The day covers a general Dormouse Ecology and Survey Techniques Workshop conservation. introduction to dormouse Conservation courses are: where small numbers of The conference will take ecology, as well as an 10 Jun – Cheddar, Somerset people can get handling place in Ostritz, 15km south introduction to the work of 8 July – Cheddar, Somerset experience using captive of Görlitz close to the Polish the North West Dormouse 19 August – Wildwood, Kent dormice. This year’s courses and Czech borders. It will Partnership. There is a site 10 Sept – Wildwood, Kent are full but for further details be in the International visit in the afternoon. The 16 Sept – Cheddar, Somerset or to be put on a waiting list Meeting Centre (www. cost is £35 (or £25 for CWT 14 Oct – Cheddar, Somerset contact Hazel Ryan on ibz-marienthal.de), part members). To book phone Suitable for all levels this 01227 711900 or email of the baroque Cistercian 01948 820728 or email one-day course is ideal [email protected]. Abbey St. Marienthal, where [email protected]. for those with a general

J DO YOU KNOW with little shading of the ANY POTENTIAL understorey, creating a full DORMOUSE ‘three dimensional’ structure RELEASE SITES? As with plenty of arboreal links you well know, the hazel among and between the dormouse has disappeared canopy and shrub layer. Of from several counties key importance is plenty of where it was found in the fruiting hazel, at least seven late 19th century. It now years old. Other species occurs almost entirely south which dormice depend on of a line between Suff olk for food and bedding at and Shropshire, save for various times throughout remnant populations and the year are honeysuckle, reintroduced populations of bramble, dog rose, oak and PTES captive-bred animals. ash. It would be preferable • Lincolnshire hedgerows. If the site has The hazel dormouse to have good linkages to • Lancashire a southerly aspect and is reintroduction programme other areas of woodland and • Leicestershire not too public, so much the has been going for almost thus a reasonable prospect • Nottinghamshire better. Ideally the wood twenty years now with of any new population of • Yorkshire will be managed on a long reintroductions at 17 dormice spreading. or counties with isolated rotation coppice, in small diff erent sites throughout We are looking for woods populations, which require coupes and at irregular England. The aim is to either in the following strengthening: intervals. It is important that release dormice back into counties which have no • Bedfordshire sheep and other livestock counties where they have or few known natural • Northamptonshire should be excluded from the become locally extinct, or populations remaining, are • Staff ordshire reintroduction area, as they have scattered or isolated adjacent to counties within • Suff olk are likely to trample dormice populations. the core range and are • Warwickshire. in hibernation. We are always looking within the known historical Woodlands should be in If you know of a wood or for suitable woodlands. range of the dormouse: excess of 20ha (50 acres) or would like more info email Such sites would contain • Cambridgeshire they could be a smaller area [email protected] or a diversity of deciduous • Cheshire linked to more woodland call Nida on 020 7498 4533. trees and shrubs, preferably • Derbyshire habitat by species rich Thank you.

20 the dormouse monitor