spring 2010 thedormouse

monitorthe newsletter of the national monitoring programme

people’s trust for endangered species |

INSIDE Michael Woods remembered How do edible dormice know when to breed? new paper out Can nest tubes always detect dormice? a study in Devon spring 2010 spring 2010

Welcome Contents Forest dormice in the Russian foothills The forest dormouse’s countries, with populations Forest dormice in the Russian foothills 3 range is the largest in the being fragmented. Dr dormouse family. The species Magomedov asked PTES for en ko. ov Tributes to Michael Woods 4 lives in deciduous and mixed a grant to help him get more forests with shrubby cover. information about the status Request for wild dormouse bodies 6 It is found across central and of the species in Daghestan, southern , Asia Minor particularly in light of the Loddiswell lodges for dormice 7 and the Iranian Plateau in fact that their preferred r ya y. & g o med ov

over to the Altai habitat – scrub cover – has m a

Seaside dormice at Slapton Ley NNR 8 Mountains. In the been reduced by human m . Earlier in the year we sent species is found right up to activities. out the 2010 recording How do edible dormice know when to breed? 9 the Ural Mountains and the Dr Magomedov and his forms and guidelines, if you Caucasus. team hoped to study the didn’t receive these please Real estate for dormice in Wiltshire 10 Historical references to population structure and contact [email protected] or the forest dormouse can be dynamics of the forest call 020 7498 4533. Dormouse nests in strange places 11 found in Aristotle - where the dormice in the area and find on 20th September. The carried out, is being done The 2009 data is currently scientist characterised the out more about the threats highest numbers of so illegally. So now the being entered onto the New dormice for Warwickshire 12 species’ hibernation process they faced and how to look were caught in areas furthest team plan to focus on NDMP database, if you – and in ancient Roman after them in future. They from towns and human mitigating these factors haven’t as yet sent in your Can nest tubes always detect dormice? 14 naturalist’s texts too. also wanted to get local activity and with the greatest in co-operation with the 2009 records please do so Little is known about forest people actively involved in amount of shrubby cover. Ministry of Environment and now. We will bring you a Training courses and news 16 dormice in their native range monitoring the animals and More work is needed to get Protection of Daghestan report on the data in the in Daghestan, Russia. Work helping to conserve them further information about (MEPD). Their priorities will next issue of The Dormouse in neighbouring Georgia too. The zone they were the species in the area. be to recommend that local Monitor. A preliminary look and Azerbaijan has shown working in was the foothills However, Dr Magomedov administrations prevent at the data shows that that their numbers are of Daghestan, about 20% of and his team concluded further habitat loss within 2009 proved to be a good low and unstable in these the whole area covering over that many human activities the vicinity of settlements, dormouse year with many 10,000km2. It’s a temperate are impacting on the area, that they also carry out monitoring sites having region with temperatures and therefore the species, in a proactive planting higher than usual dormouse dropping to about 1°С in particular forestry and fires. programme and that they numbers. And there was People's Trust for Endangered Species en ko. ov winter and reaching on There is also a high level ensure that environmental encouraging news from 15 Cloisters House average 21°С in the summer. of construction in the area education and training is Adrian Hutchings at Crab 8 Battersea Park Road Over 100 trap nights, 52 consisting mostly of private widely available, especially Wood in Hampshire, with London forest dormice were caught. dwellings. Unfortunately for young people. dormice being found in the SW8 4BG The earliest one was picked much of the logging and We will keep you updated boxes again after a five to six r ya y. & g o med ov up in mid April, the latest clearance that is being with the project in the future. www.ptes.org year absence. Many thanks m a to Adrian and his team for Tel: 020 7498 4533 m . persevering with the nest [email protected] The forest dormice box checks. Registered charity number 274206 (below) were found nesting in various We are hoping that the The National Dormouse Monitoring Programme is funded by PTES and Natural England. trees and shrubs, long cold winter will have including hollows benefitted the dormice and The scientific work is based at Royal Holloway, University of London. in hornbeams (left) that 2010 will bring even and shrubby cover (above.) higher numbers, so we look The Dormouse Monitor is compiled by Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi. forward to receiving your box check forms later this Cover image kindly provided by Paul Manchester. Printed by 4 Print on environmentally friendly paper. year - please don’t forget to use our online system The opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. if you haven’t tried it yet - just visit www.ptes.org/ dormousemonitoring.

Best regards

Nida Al Fulaij & Susan Sharafi s evi anu 2 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 3 e l i ana spring 2010 spring 2010

Tributes to Michael Woods Michael worked hard to Sadly Michael Woods, years later that we started to finding dormice on the very clear grasp of what in encouraging the was always going to be a meetings in London development of local groups struggle as too few ‘youths’ last year, despite his ensure that mitigation a dedicated dormouse collaborate, trying to unravel beach! Well, almost. Michael science is for and how was carried out where conservationist, died some of the mysteries of this found that they were living systematic study can reveal to foster the involvement could be assembled in one increasing frailty. possible, and was earlier this year. Two fellow fascinating little . in low growing scrub on important information. He of the substantial number place at the same time from Clearly he was not instrumental in trialling dormouse bridges. dormouse enthusiasts pay As ecological consultants, the shingle ridge at Slapton managed to obtain grants of non-professional a nationally distributed giving up and was still tribute to him and his work. we were particularly Ley (see page 8). Separated to buy 1,600 of the recently members who wanted to organisation. Nevertheless, watching badgers on He will be greatly missed. concerned about the from more conventional devised dormouse nest make a contribution to the he managed it well and there CCTV in his garden relationships between woodland habitat by several tubes, he inspired a team understanding of are quite a few ex- ‘youths’ just before he died in Ecologist, friend and dormice and developers. It hectares of water and from of volunteers to take part, and their conservation. who owe a lot to this early January. colleague. I first met Michael was our job to advise when, the sea by a road and 50m of helped devise the survey In the dormouse world, he support and stimulus. His father, Doug more than thirty years where and how dormouse shingle, the dormice found protocol, made sure that the made a considerable number Michael was a Woods, had been ago, doing otter surveys surveys should be carried themselves right under the whole show kept on the road of friends amongst those Society council member for one of the key in County Durham, and out and we began to realise path of a proposed road and played an important involved in conservation in over 20 years and stood for pioneers of dormouse encountered him regularly that it was more often than diversion. part in writing up the results. the UK and internationally election as chairman when conservation and at Mammal Society meetings we had thought. A spur to The project revealed In recent years we have as well, culminating in him my term ended. This was research, based over subsequent years where the Southwest Dormouse many of Michael’s best regularly exchanged news, running the 7th International probably the first contested in Somerset. he became a good friend Project, which we planned characteristics. Not a trained views, information and ideas Dormouse Conference in election we ever had as Following Doug’s and colleague. It was several and oversaw together, was scientist himself he had a about dormice as well as the Mendips, which many opinions were deeply and lead, Michael also other mammals. Subscribers readers will remember with equally divided over the contributed strongly to the NDMP discussion affection. The organiser of principle of appointing to the promotion forum will know that he the 8th conference, Sven an ‘amateur’ (i.e. non- of dormouse was always willing to share Buchner, recently wrote to professional) as chairman conservation by information and he made me saying “We lose, with instead of an academic operating one of the frequent contributions Michael, a wonderful friend. or full-time professional captive breeding - pertinent, informative He had tremendous personal mammalogist. Discussions centres that supplied and based on a wealth of magnetism and sense of dragged on and Mike put the animals for practical experience. He also humour. Michael’s interests up with it stoically. In the reintroductions across ran a highly successful series were broad. I appreciated end Mike withdrew his the country.

of courses on dormice and his huge knowledge, for candidature to avoid a He took up the idea e st r m anch paul would help out anyone who instance on keeping hazel divisive election, a generous of using inexpensive needed advice or guidance. dormice, the ecology of act that was immediately ‘nest tubes’ as a Michael seemed to excel many species and practical scorned by his opponent, tool for conducting in so many fields: he was a conservation. Whenever I who went on to break the dormouse surveys that first rate naturalist, a teacher, had a special question on Society’s invaluable link with avoided the high cost writer, photographer and raising dormice or I had the PTES. Michael finally of wooden nest boxes. He to cross a real road in even a good chairman to puzzle out a difficult succeeded him six years later, carried out the experiments Cheddar. This was part of and manager. He played ecological problem Michael but soon was hampered by to determine how many our ongoing campaign to a major role in the work could help.” illness. tubes were needed, and highlight the issue of habitat of the Mammal Society, I will miss him too. I last saw He very much wanted for how long, in order to fragmentation and the need where he was on council him in early December 2009 to host the International obtain statistically reliable for linkages to retain habitat for over twenty years, a few weeks before he died. Dormouse Conference results - a vital piece of integrity at the landscape ending his term of office as Confined to a wheelchair, during his tenure as Mammal practical information for use level. (I hope to be reporting chairman less than a year and needing a great deal of Society Chairman. This he in the field. This is significant on this issue in Japan later ago, several months after help and care from his wife did in 2008, in spite of his because Michael was a this year, including reference he was diagnosed with Frankie, his sense of humour increasing disability, some freelance consultant running to Michael’s experiments Motor Neurone Disease. For was undiminished and his six years after first proposing a business, not supported with dormouse bridges). many years he was chair of smile and mischievous eyes the idea. The meeting was by research grants. But he From time to time he also the youth group - whose still revealed the Michael attended by representatives was anxious to ensure that wrote useful articles in the meetings and expeditions that we all knew so well. from more than a dozen his professional advice was press, bringing mammals were renowned for their Paul Chanin countries, ranging from soundly based on real facts to the attention of a wider fun and laughter as well as Britain to South Africa and and good research. public. their quality. Taking over Michael first came into Japan. It was an informal and He also arranged dormouse Despite not being a as chair of the society at a my consciousness as enjoyable success that relied seminars and training days professional mammalogist, leader of the Mammal heavily on Michael and his especially for ecological Michael contributed a great e x press difficult time in its history, y he successfully steered it Society Youth group. This resources. Such meetings consultants. In conjunction deal and, like his father, ai l d through the appointment of involved producing special have done a lot to promote with Warren Cresswell, managed to move things on its first Executive Directors. newsletters and an exciting interest in dormice across Mike built an experimental in an unobtrusive but very He was also instrumental and adventurous summer Europe and beyond. I was dormouse bridge in his effective manner. western camp. Managing the group pleased to see Michael at garden, later scaled up Pat Morris 4 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 5 spring 2010 spring 2010

Request for wild dormouse bodies Loddiswell lodges for dormice Whilst the discovery of a of tissues, making every • detection of emerging With two studies now Isaac Newton said that his is one rule with dormice of the dormice we qualified dead dormouse, or even dormouse even more diseases interested in making the discoveries came about as it is that they do not read as licensed handlers and an incident that results in a valuable to present and • morphometric data and best out of a bad situation he ‘stood on the shoulders instruction books. This one installed fifty nest boxes for dormouse’s death, is always future studies. how it varies with age, sex there is even more reason of giants’. This is true for had decided to over-winter them. At the same time we distressing, some good can The population genetics and time of year for anyone who finds a so many discoveries even in the box five feet up in a hit upon the idea of siting come out of these animals’ study is comparing the • the types of parasites that dead dormouse, under those made in the world of tree, not at the base. Also terracotta roof ridge-tiles deaths. Much can be learnt genetic diversity of are found and the normal whatever circumstances, dormice. The setting for this it slept on while the blue at the base of each tree to from scientific analysis of a dormice throughout south parasite burden to collect and send off the experiment is a typical Great tits built their nest on top provide possible sites for dead dormouse, which can west England, in order to • the presence of zoonotic body for scientific research. Western Railway branchline of it. On inspecting the box hibernation nests. inform conservation work, investigate the dispersal infections and what Post-mortems are more station - Loddiswell - on a there was a dormouse in the I have already mentioned so helping to safeguard the behaviour of dormice and precautions dormouse sensitive to time delays, and route which was the victim bottom in a sphagnum nest that dormice do not read species’ existence. Two such how this corresponds to workers should take to so we ask that the body is of Dr Beeching’s cuts. with a blue tit nest on top the instruction books and studies are the ongoing habitat connectivity. This avoid being infected. sent to Paignton, and then Significantly it, or perhaps of that with eggs already in this experiment the post-mortems carried out is particularly important as a separate sample will be the woods immediately in it. Surprisingly everyone success we got was not by Paignton Zoo and the habitat fragmentation is a Stored samples may in taken and sent off for the around it, was included in survived; the dormouse what we were expecting. population genetics project major threat to dormice. the future be used for genetic analysis. However the sites where H.G. Hurrel obviously woke up as it was Monitoring has not been being conducted by the Most of the samples for retrospective studies on decomposed the body, we first recorded his ground- not there later and the chicks carried out as systematically University of Exeter, Cornwall genetic analysis are hair the presence of viruses. appeal that you do send it breaking studies of the hazel hatched and fledged in due as the summertime nest box Campus, a three-year project samples taken from living Teeth and eyes can be on, as even if it is not suitable dormouse. course. inspections, however the funded by the PTES. dormice during normal used for aging. Not all this for post-mortem there is a Following our purchase of The second dormouse following summary covers Paignton Zoo have been NDMP monitoring sessions. information can be obtained good chance it maybe useful the station it was not long suggested the subsequent what has been discovered collecting dormouse bodies However, a small tissue from each dormouse; it is for genetics and who knows before we started hearing experiment. We had a ‘toad so far: and storing them for five sample from a dead dormice dependent on the freshness what else in the future! from our neighbours about hole’, a terracotta dome, 1) Yes dormice seem to years now. Therefore, along can also be used for genetic of the body and the the dormice in the area but it with a doorway for toads to have built winter nests of with their valuable post- analysis, almost whatever amount of money we was a while before we came shelter in. Again, inspection sphagnum moss in a couple mortem research and the decomposed condition it have at the time for across the first of them. revealed a dormouse of lodges. This ratio is on genetics work carried out may be in. The more samples the work. Some results The first was found in a hibernating in the toad a par with the number of by Liverpool University, from different dormice that may take a couple of nest box for blue tits. If there hole. Interestingly to reach boxes used in the summer to provide a store of food in suitable samples will also be can be obtained, the more months to come back the toad hole the but the lodges used are not a place convenient for our used for the newer genetics accurate the inferences, so from laboratories, so dormouse had had ones directly under boxes dormice. project. Additionally, in to the researchers every if you are waiting for ai te to cross the open that had nests. Overall our site is very rich the future should other sample is of great value. feedback please be trackbed with no 2) Several lodges have been in natural sites for summer

research projects require Post-mortem examinations understanding if we g a rthw shelter or cover. used by shrews and wood breeding nests and for such samples, they will have can give information on: don’t get back to you Following on mice for summer nests. over-wintering ones and access to a large collection • disease threats to dormice straight away. chel from the discovery Perhaps this takes pressure the dormice use man-made r a off the dormice’s use of the boxes less than in poorer When submitting dead dormice please provide the following Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7EU LEFT: The ‘Toad Hole’ boxes, in any case it does not sites. I still feel however that information if possible: • Send as ‘next day guaranteed delivery’ to arrive on a weekday that inspired the clash with their winter use by the lodges provide good Name and contact details of the finder • Refrigerate (Do NOT freeze) your dormouse if there is a delay before experiment. the dormice. protection particularly National grid reference and/or address of the site where the posting. Freezing the dormouse will prevent us from carrying out BELOW: Close up of a 3) Some lodges have been in milder, wetter winters. dormouse was found histology but if you can’t post it quickly it will still give us some ‘Loddiswell Lodge.’ used by voles as the start of Further research should pay Habitat type the dormouse was found in e.g. hedgerow, deciduous information from DNA. ABOVE: Lodge in situ their burrows. Probably this dividends. woodland, garden or, in case of captive dormice, conditions under under coppice stool. increases the population which it had been kept Health and Safety: to the general benefit of Kelvin Ellis Events surrounding the death, if known, e.g. brought in by a cat, Please remember that dormice can carry diseases that can be wildlife such as barn . Loddiswell Station, Devon found dead in a nest box with newly born young, extreme weather infectious to humans. Sensible hygiene precautions should always 4) In some lodges we [email protected] conditions, evidence of predators in vicinity be taken when handling them: have found nuts opened by Any other information known about the dormouse that might be • Do not package dormice in areas used to prepare food dormice. This has been in There was a programme relevant • Wear plastic gloves if available and wash hands thoroughly with parts of the garden where on BBC1 The One Show on How to send your dormouse: disinfectant or soap after handling dead dormice dormice have not been Thursday 17th December • Wrap the dormouse in kitchen paper or cotton wool • Do not eat or drink while handling dead dormice recorded before. 2009 about hibernating • Put the wrapped dormouse in two securely sealed plastic bags 5) Several lodges have dormice, worth watching on • Place the bagged dormouse in a cardboard roll to prevent crushing Additionally, if there are any NDMP monitors in Cornwall, Devon, been used by squirrels as BBC iplayer. The dormouse during postage Somerset or Dorset who would be willing for Cheryl Mills from ell i s nut stores. Contents have item is about 21 minutes

• Put an ice pack or ice in a sealed plastic bag around the dormouse the University of Exeter to come along to some of the box checks vi n included hazel nuts, acorns into the programme: www. and wrap absorbent tissue around it to take hair samples from the living dormice, or if you would like and peanuts (from our bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/

• Put in an envelope marked ‘PATHOLOGICAL SPECIMEN. HANDLE more information then please do contact her on: ges k el birdfeeders). It would seem b00pgpjj/The_One_ WITH CARE’ and send to: ‘Dormouse post mortems’, Ghislaine Sayers, [email protected]. poetic that we have found a Show_17_12_2009

All i m a way to encourage squirrels 6 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 7 spring 2010 spring 2010

Seaside dormice at Slapton Ley NNR How do edible dormice know when to breed? The 214 hectares of coastal For more than 50 years it immediately raised another: nest box surveys landscape that make up the has been known that edible how do edible dormice know (184 nest boxes)

National Nature Reserve i n a ldw dormice do not reproduce whether there will be a mast in every fortnight. In b at Slapton Ley in Devon is every year. Biologists the upcoming autumn? Young 2007, every week renowned for its unique speculated for many years dormice are born before ripe from May till mid

geomorphology, and for the Ma lc o lm which factors may underlie seeds are available, and the July, we provided diverse range of habitats and this phenomenon, and they decision to reproduce or supplementary the correspondingly wide often thought that climatic not has to be made in early food (200g of range of fauna and flora that conditions or insufficient summer, during a time when sunflower seeds per it supports. food resources may be the future mast situation nest box per week), Our woodland sites, which the cause. In 1998 Claudia appears to be uncertain. In which, similar to include a block of ancient Bieber finally showed our study we wanted to test beech seeds, are woodland, a semi-natural that reproductive failure the hypothesis that edible rich in fat and wood, and a managed area coincided with a lack of mast dormice use the presence energy content, in of coppiced hazel, have until seeding of certain trees, like of reproductive structures approximately 30% recently provided the focus beech or oak. Edible dormice of trees as the decisive cue. of our study area. for our dormouse monitoring are born very late in the Even unripe beechnuts Interestingly, on the reserve. The presence active season and therefore (i.e. buds) in July already supplementary feeding did reproduction is typically a of dormice in the various they need an energy rich have a high fat content not increase the body mass result of higher body mass nest box sites has confirmed food resource which allows of more than 15% and of females, and males in (and larger energy reserves). breeding in all three of these them to reach a body mass their presence or absence the supplementary feeding Our study clearly showed locations, confirming the the shingle bar was severely of it further inland. Since Coastal Footpath and the that is sufficient to survive may affect reproductive area were only ~5g heavier that, in edible dormice, traditional view of what damaged in a January storm. various parts of our site A379 main road thrown in their first winter within a very decisions. To test this than those in the control body mass per se is not the comprises optimum habitat The only practical solution have designations to protect for good measure – hardly short time period of only hypothesis we conducted area. Although body mass decisive factor. Therefore for dormice. of reinstating and repairing them - SSSI (Site of Special classic dormouse habitat! eight weeks. In years without a supplemental feeding was nearly unaffected, it seems that they do not In 2001 the A379 road the damaged section of Scientific Interest) and NNR During our first year of energy rich seeds the experiment at our study site supplementary feeding actually need the additional running along the crest of road was to rebuild a section (National Nature Reserve) monitoring we had a 26% survival of the young would in the Vienna Forest (Austria). nevertheless increased energy provided by seeds to being the most important occupancy rate in our boxes otherwise be very low. At this site we have been reproduction. We found enable reproduction, they - an environmental within this zone and, whilst The answer to the long studying edible dormice that in the supplementary only need the ‘information’ impact assessment was there have been annual asked question of why since 2006 and conduct feeding area more females that high energetic food is carried out to help work fluctuations, in 2009 we gave birth (96%) compared available (and there is more out where to put the new recorded 21 adult and 13 to the control area (58%). to come in the autumn). section of road. young dormice in the 25 Although the reproductive Again, as one question is Part of the assessment boxes within this small area. rate was higher in adult answered, a new on arises: involved putting up nest Dr Paul Chanin is a (two or more years old) which physiological pathways tubes to see if dormice well known authority females than in the lighter enable edible dormice to were present. Imagine on mammals and knows yearlings (one year old), process this information, and our surprise when the Slapton well. Paul is not the reproductive decision to initiate their reproduction? survey confirmed the surprised by our findings, within each age class was Further studies will hopefully presence of dormice in citing a study of his own in independent of their body soon reveal how this process this mixed habitat of Cornwall where dormice mass. It also influenced works. what is predominantly are successfully breeding males, as more were rank grassland and low on a central reservation reproductively active in Karin Lebl scrub, even more so given on the main A30 trunk the supplementary feeding the geography of the site. road. Our recent records area. Further, those males Lebl K, Kürbisch K, Bieber C The aerial photograph at Slapton provide yet also maintained large, & Ruf T (in press): Energy or (left) demonstrates another example of where functional testes for about Information? The role of seed clearly how confined dormice are successful in four weeks longer than availability for reproductive one of our monitoring what is generally regarded those in the control area. decisions in edible dormice. zones is where regular as distinctly sub-optimal Our results therefore suggest Journal of Comparative breeding has recently habitat, at the same time that edible dormice can Physiology B. DOI: 10.1007/ been confirmed. The site displaying no small level of use the occurrence of an s00360-009-0425-6. is squeezed in between tolerance to a high degree of energy rich food resource to 70 hectares of open water disturbance. predict the autumnal mast The whole article is and reed fringe to the situation. Whilst increased freely available at www. west, a hostile maritime Nick Binnie reproduction is a common springerlink.com/openurl.as i e aspect immediately Reserves Manager result in supplementary p?genre=article&id=doi:10.1 lebl b i nn to the east, with the Slapton Ley feeding experiments in 007/s00360-009-0425-6 adjoining South Devon Field Studies Council mammals, the increased n i c k ka r i n 8 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 9 spring 2010 spring 2010

Real estate for dormice in Wiltshire Dormouse nests in strange places There are 120 dormouse costs to a minimum. After boxes in Blackmoor a number of disappointing beech hedge home seeking refuge under steps Copse ‘oak/ash over hazel’ (but understandable) woodland nature reserve refusals and delays, PTES (our Betty McKay, from garden room stairs there near Salisbury in south saviour) was kind enough Chilworth near was a perfect sphere of Wiltshire. The first 90 were to offer us £200. Hurrah! A Southampton, is lucky tightly wound cream strips sited by Paul Bright in project could begin in 2009. enough not only to have nestling in the ferns just 1987, and many have been Phil - our carpentry and dormice visiting her garden under the top steps. The replaced (several times) woodwork adviser and but also to have them spot is in easy reach of the over the years as time, expert - reworked his plans, nesting there. While Betty bird feeders and bath, with woodpeckers and squirrels contacted companies to was making her Christmas branches of winter jasmine have all taken their toll. A secure the best prices cakes last December her over hanging the step. A new monitoring section was possible and estimated husband, who had been few years ago a dormouse added in the late 1990s, but what we could achieve. He clearing a mass of leaves nested in a window box even the 30 boxes there are hoped that with luck, his from the garden room on the other side of the now decidedly dilapidated skills and the less skilled roof, found a dormouse house and was coming to despite their NHBC but enthusiastic labour of nest in a very unusual the bird feeders for food in ‘Buildmark’ certificates. the whole Blackmoor Copse Jen Bousfield, a dormouse place. Underneath the February. In 2008 we surveyed the dormouse monitoring team, monitor from Cornwall, state of the boxes and we might squeeze about 78 took this photograph of found that about a hundred boxes out of our £200. a dormouse nest which needed replacing as soon as Phil masterminded the she found in a hedge the other, which contains possible. We investigated project and obtained all in her garden. The nest ash, laurel, thorn, hazel what grants might be the materials, designed the has green garden twine and some honeysuckle, available and applied to boxes and planned what woven right thought it. sallow, sycamore, yew and the local Wildlife Trust, and had to be done, then we lots of teas, coffees, cakes The last task of all was for Jen found the nest in her rhododendron. many other awarding bodies, arranged sessions to do and biscuits. The work is the dormouse monitors vegetable garden hedge Jen also found two asking nicely for £400 to the work together in mix summarised below and was and their partners to have a which is predominantly dormouse nests in a replace 100 boxes using and match groups, to keep much more entertaining celebratory pub meal (self- beech. The nest was in the rather tidier hedge along volunteer labour to keep it fun and sociable, with than it appears! funded of course). This was hedge seven feet up and her drive, one of which The boxes had been a tough assignment but we held in place by the twiggy contained a litter of young completed, coated with all ate and drank and were re-growth from the year dormice. This beech hedge two coats of preservative, merry at the splendid Radnor before. The hedge is 20m is 7m by 1.6m and 25 and had Laura Ashley Arms in Nunton in March, long by 1.25m wide and years old. It is kept cut curtains fitted (only joking) and look forward to a great 35 years old. It contains to two metres long and by January. We had a long 2010 dormouse hassling one oak seedling and an contains some ivy and morning in the copse in season. apple tree. The hedge bramble. This hedge is February, involving a swarm forms a continuous habitat connected to a nearby of people and wheelbarrows The Team: Peter Docherty, with other shrubs including woodland with willow, and lashings of hot coffee, Tony Goddard, Mark Hill, roses, gooseberries, alder and gunnera across swapping old boxes for new, Phil Smith and Sue Walker. raspberries and buddleia. a stream. There are also or is that new for old? It is connected to the some rose, quince and field hedge on one side hazel shrubs at the other Work Man-hours and a remnant hedge on end. Collecting materials including external ply sheet, initial 22 cutting of the sheet, close cutting the ply, sanding, t e a m preparing wood, making kit pieces, creating piles of the sky’s the limit area of the wood that hadn’t individual pieces ready for assembly line* been surveyed yet. As we albeit using Assembly line production of 78 boxes** 24 Alison Looser and her team were putting up the boxes, rather unusual

Painting with preservative, two coats inside and out, three 27.5 in Suffolk found that the we noticed an old helium nesting o rs auth coats on lid tops ** sky’s the limit when it comes balloon which had been materials!” c o ps e do r mo us e Fitting clout nails and touching up paintwork ** 1.5 to building your nests if caught up in the canopy. On

you’re a dormouse. closer inspection we found Alison Looser by ovided

Putting the 78 boxes up in the wood, including fitting lid 22.5 pr a dormouse nest inside! Suffolk closure wire loops** y “During this winter’s Dormice were released into Wildlife Trust TOTAL TIME SPENT 97.5 dormouse box maintenance Bradfield Wood in 2006, so it’s kmoo r ge s b lac * Skilled work. NB Phil had a workshop and excellent table saw. at Bradfield Woods, Suffolk, great that they are moving ge s ki n d l ** Unskilled work. Time includes lots of tea/coffee/biscuit/cake breaks. we moved a few boxes to an into new parts of the wood, It worked out at about 1.25 hours and £2.56 per box. Fuller details and technical ALL im a drawings of the box plans are available at www.ptes.org. all im a 10 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 11 spring 2010 spring 2010

New dormice for Warwickshire - one release and one rescue On June 15th 2009 25 seeds and water every level to keep areas of the Rescue begins dormice were released day and after two weeks canopy open. The light On the morning of 24th pr i nce into Windmill Naps in the doors were opened so coming in allows a variety September 2009 I had a

Warwickshire. There were that they could start to live of woodland plants to grow phone call from Nida jo hn 11 males and 14 females independently in their new and produce food and Al Fulaij at PTES informing which had come from woodland. nesting materials for the me that the owners of the several private breeders 200 nest boxes were put dormice. They will feed on woodland in Warwickshire, and wild animal parks, up in the wood for these insects, flowers, fruit and where dormice had been all part of the Common tiny mammals to nest and nuts until each winter when released in June, had found Dormouse Captive Breeders breed in so that in the future they will hibernate under the three baby dormice on the Group – a slight misnomer there will be many more leaf litter once again. floor of one of the release considering they are no animals. To find out how the In total PTES has released cages. They were cold but longer a common species dormice fared last summer over 600 dormice into 12 still alive - it appeared that - to ensure that the new the boxes were checked in counties. At three of the the mother had built her nest population has a mixture September and October reintroduction sites the in the nest box in the release of genes. This is an exciting with any individuals found animals have spread out cage, instead of going event for Warwickshire as being scanned - as the of the woodlands they into the wood. The three the dormouse has only been dormice have been micro- were released in, into the youngsters were placed back recorded from a handful of chipped it will be possible surrounding countryside – a into their nest where another sites in the county. to find out who they are and great success. baby was discovered, but This reintroduction, the how far they have travelled The dormouse is a their mother could not be seventeenth organised by from their cages – and protected species as it is very found. Could I do anything? I PTES and Natural England, weighed. It is hoped that scarce, owing to the lack of live in Buckinghamshire and was attended by local any young born to these 25 management of woodlands the rescue would involve an naturalists who helped to adults had enough time to in England and Wales since almost 200 mile round trip. put up the large release fatten up over last summer the Second World War. It Perhaps Paul Manchester, cages that the dormice lived and autumn to survive is the subject of a national my fellow captive breeder, TOP: Feeding milk to the dormice. us to Yorkshire. At home on youngsters to climb on. It 23.5g, one female 28g, in until they were used to hibernation during the Biodiversity Action Plan could take me up there. BOTTOM: Taking solid food. 28th September one baby took up the bulk of the airing another female 23.5g and their new surroundings. winter and increase the total (www.ukbap.org.uk) and Well Paul was at work, and ABOVE RIGHT: The large outdoor died, the following day three cupboard and displaced a the third female 18g. In early They were given fruit, number of breeding adults also one of the 50 action it’s against my principles to cage used to house the dormice. more died, what was I doing pile of clothes. spring they were transferred for the future. plans in the Warwickshire, stop another man working, wrong? The goat’s milk was to a large outdoor cage. If The wood Coventry and Solihull Local and if I waited till the next have taken nearly an hour rejected so I went over to The Great Escape all goes well perhaps we will is managed Biodiversity Action Plan day they would be dead. So on my knees with an ear full cream cow’s milk for two On the 17th November at be able to say it was a 50% by coppicing. (www.warwickshire.gov.uk/ I told Nida I would go that dropper feeding them. We days, then back to goat’s about 10.30pm I was placing success. This means biodiversity). afternoon. After lunch and a popped them into a shoe milk and honey, as the cow’s a tray of water in the box, It is difficult to fit normal some of short nap (we have adapted box, with a yellow duster for milk scoured them. After a and to my dismay one of the life around four to five feeds the trees, Ruth Moffatt the Mediterranean habit of a bed to keep them warm. week of hand feeding, dry dormice ran along the lid every 24 hours. During the particularly Warwickshire a siesta, well octogenarians I was supplied with a hot food, apple, milk and biscuits of the box and disappeared first week of hand feeding hazel, are cut Dormouse Group need a mid day break), I cup of tea, said goodbye to were supplied. About half into the airing cupboard. We I could be up anytime at ground [email protected] collected a bottle of goat’s the ladies and began the 80 way through the hand were both very worried, as between three and five in milk from the supermarket. mile trip home. Once home feeding period I found they it could disappear under the the morning when they I phoned the owners and another feed of warm goat’s were chewing each others floor and die. I said the best would be very hungry. Was asked them to have hot milk with a little sugar, later fur. My wife suggested I thing to do was to leave it it worth it? Yes! Would I do water ready for me on my at my wife’s suggestion this put hazel twigs in the cage. till the morning. I put some it again? I guess so, but four arrival to warm the milk. was changed to honey. This worked very well and food and bedding out for animals at a time is more They were to meet me at the So began the three weeks they chewed the leaves and it. The next morning while than enough. The tension gate of the wood. Placing the of hand feeding. They all stems whilst their coats grew I was down in the garden builds up in the shoulders ‘Dormouse Rescue’ sign on weighed 4.5g on the first back. By this time the shoe feeding the poultry my wife and the arms ache. It’s a top of the car, I headed for day and by the third week of box had been abandoned came running down to me to big relief when they feed the M40 up to Birmingham. hand feeding their average and they were installed in say the dormouse was on a themselves. Val and Angela, who helped weight was 16g. At the a large plastic storage box stool in the bathroom under y hanratt y with the reintroduction, met weekend my wife’s family with ventilation holes. The her woolly, she nearly sat on John Prince, North Bucks me on my arrival and we were taking us to Doncaster advantage of the plastic box it. Fortunately I was able to Dormouse Group & member went straight to the release to visit my wife’s sisters. So I was they could not climb catch it. That was the end of of the Common Dormouse cage. The ladies were excited asked around my helpers if the sides and escape when their cosy stay in the airing Captive Breeders Group because they had found could anyone step in to feed the lid was off. The box was cupboard. By December four more babies bringing the babies, but they were all lined with plain paper which they were in a cage in the This issue’s cover is of two of e st r Manch the total to eight. I started pre-booked for other events. was replaced every day and conservatory and putting on the four surviving dormice. aul e st r m anch & de rr aul

P to feed the babies, it must So the babies had to go with had vegetation in it for the weight. The male weighed P 12 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 13 spring 2010 spring 2010

Figure 1 Number o n of new nests o lt Can nest tubes always detect dormice? found each w A number of studies have month. o bert suggested that where a r

habitat provides good ges conditions for dormice

to build their nests in a ll i m a unenclosed situations they may choose to do so rather than use cavities, whether natural hollows such as tree holes or artificial ones such as nest boxes or tubes. Last year I decided to test this for nest tubes in hedges. In late March 2009 I new nests built in their tubes In conclusion, this study placed 92 new nest tubes in that month, showing that suggests that nest tubes (purchased from the any survey limited to placing are an effective way of Mammal Society) in hedges tubes at the end of August detecting dormice in on our farm in north Devon, and checking them at the hedges even where the with between eight and 12 end of September would hedges in question have in each of nine hedges, all at have failed to detect dormice the right structure and 10m spacing and along the in a third of hedges. When plant species composition entire length of the hedge. half the tubes were checked for the construction of I checked the tubes once a in mid-November, no further unenclosed nests. However, month, within the first ten new nests were found. In a further studies are needed to days of each month. Any much more extensive nest confirm this and to explore nests found were left in the tube study in south west optimal spacing. tubes. dense, thorny or prickly for biodiversity (see the effective at detecting England, over two years and RIGHT: Rob found All the hedges were ones growth, as provided by Hedgerow Survey Handbook the presence of dormice. dormice in the hedges covering multiple habitats, Robert Wolton during the survey where I have frequently trimmed blackthorn, for definitions). However, if spacing had been Paul Chanin and Michael Locks Park Farm period. found dormouse nests in hawthorn or holly bushes, or By early October dormouse at 20m as recommended by Woods found a peak in May Hatherleigh, Devon recent years and provide by well-developed bramble nests had been found in the Mammal Society, there as well as a bigger one in [email protected] good unenclosed nesting or field rose margins. All tubes in all nine hedges, is an even chance that the September. conditions. They were hedges were species-rich showing that as a survey presence of dormice would LEFT: Dormouse nests characterised by having and in favourable condition technique it was very not have been detected were found in the nest in one hedge where just tubes throughout the one out of 12 tubes was year. used. (In this hedge I found two unenclosed nests in September, both occupied REFERENCES by adult dormice.) Nests were built in 29 of the Anon. 2006. Hedgerow Survey Handbook: a standard procedure for 92 tubes at some time during local surveys in the UK. 2nd Edition. Department for Environment, the six month period in Food and Rural Affairs. which they were monitored. This tube occupancy rate Berg, L. and Berg, A. 1998. Nest site selection by the dormouse (32%) would appear high: Muscardinus avellanarius in two different landscapes. Annales I have been unable to find Zoologici Fennici, 35, 115-122 published figures with which to compare this and would Chanin, P. and Woods, M. (2003). Surveying dormice using nest be interested to hear from tubes. Results and experiences from the South West Dormouse any reader who knows of Project English Nature Research Reports. English Nature Research

o n any. One hedge had six out Report No 524. of nine tubes occupied, and o lt w another six out of ten. Wolton, R. 2008. Where dormice nest in hedges. The Dormouse New nests were built Monitor. Spring 2008. People’s Trust for Endangered Species. in every month except

bert ges Ro April, with a strong peak in Wolton, R. 2009. Muscardinus avellanarius nest site September. However, three selection in hedgerows. Mammalia 73, 7-12. m o rr i s

of the nine hedges had no t All i m a a p 14 the dormouse monitor the dormouse monitor 15 spring 2010 Training courses and news n can you help by Pat Morris, will be held in Dormouse-chewed in which we survey for run a woodland Somerset on 7th September. dormice, particularly if owners group For further details email hazel is absent or if much meeting? The Small [email protected] or call more cherry is present than Woodland Owner’s Group 020 7498 4533. hazel (as may be the case in are looking for volunteers - suburban habitats, gardens managers or owners - to host There is a FSC course taught and orchards). This theory a meeting in the Midlands by Paul Chanin at Slapton could easily be tested using or further north for other Ley in Devon this August. captive animals and I would woodland owners to come Dormice are found in some welcome observations and see how your wood is unusual habitat here and the from people with access to Apodemus-chewed managed - in particular to course will include a visit to captives. benefit dormice. If you can the low lying scrub between Dave Parsons BSc MSc help please email the lake and seashore where MIEEM, Senior Ecologist [email protected] or call they are found. The course 020 7498 4533. also covers otters and The Oxfordshire Mammal badgers. For further details Group can be found on got to www.field-studies- Facebook, please direct any council.org/2010/courseinfo. correspondence there or aspx?id=22 email Dave on d.parsons@ bsg-ecology.com. Please also For more details of the forward any interesting points Mammal Society dormouse are gnawed in a particular you have to the dormouse courses visit way. On another site that forum. If you aren’t signed up www.mammal.org.uk or call supports a good dormouse yet please contact susan@ 02380 237874. population but where I have ptes.org to join. If you’re taking yet to encounter Apodemus part in the Great Nut Hunt Tarka Ecology is running mice I have found cherry please look out for any cherry two Dormouse Ecology and stones gnawed entirely stones whilst you’re out and Conservation courses at differently. The Apodemus send them to Dave. n Dormouse Hallsannery Field Centre, stones are gnawed from groups - where Bideford, North Devon one end, with the hole n dead stoat are you? If you are on 2nd June 2010 and having an external diameter This stoat was found with its part of a local or county 18th September 2010. of approximately 4.5mm head stuck in the entrance dormouse group please For more details contact and clearly show the ‘coin hole to a dormouse nest box contact [email protected] or call [email protected] edge’ chiselling as found on 020 7498 4533. We are trying or call 01237 459679. hazel nuts. The dormouse to get a comprehensive list stones are gnawed on together. n using cherry the side of the stone, are stones to find noticeably smaller (3mm n Great nut hunt dormice I am a licenced external diameter) and update Thank you to all dormouse ecologist, run the clearly show the ‘scooped of you who carried out a nut Oxfordshire Mammal Group, out’ tooth marks as found hunt last winter. Over 400 and I am an NDMP volunteer. on hazel nuts. Further, the sites have been surveyed During my time as a dormouse stones are never with over 70 having positive surveyor I believe that I have found in caches but are signs for dormice. However encountered field evidence always scattered beneath the we are sure many people from cherry stones that is canopy. were put off by the snow so as (if not more) reliable for I have been monitoring we are going to carry the determining dormouse these sites for three years, third Great Nut Hunt on this presence as are gnawed and given the large number coming autumn and winter hazel nuts. of cherry stones of only in which a bird had made too. We will be asking for On one of my survey sites one specific type found a nest. There was an egg in your help again from August. where both wood mice and in each of the woodlands, the nest but nothing else. yellow-necked mice are I am convinced that this The stoat had evidently n Training present but dormice are is a reliable method of attempted to get to the egg courses 2010 The absent I have encountered determining dormouse and had become trapped. PTES course How to Manage cherry stone caches in presence. This has obvious Dave Fincham Woods for Dormice, taught occupied nest boxes that implications for the way Priestley Wood, Suffolk 16 the dormouse monitor