People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW84BG Registered charity no Conservation of the hazel dormouse

Dormouse Conservation Finding Dormice – Survey methods Dormouse requirements and densities Problems for the species Mitigation suggestions Dormouse re-introductions

Dormouse survey methods Nut hunts Nest tubes Nest boxes Natural nests Hair tubes

Nut hunt methodology Requires presence of hazel Hole in nut – check tooth marks Search 5 x 10m2 for 20 min each –no dormouse opened nuts found; unlikely to be present Collect 100 hazel nuts opened by voles, mice and dormice (not squirrels) –none opened by dormice; unlikely to be present

Nest tubes Cheap survey method Best used in hedgerows Used to demonstrate presence/absence of dormice –50 tubes between June and Nov –no dormouse evidence; species ‘unlikely’ to be present Methodology in Dormouse Conservation Handbook

Nest tubes

Nest Boxes Expensive survey method Best used on vertical stems Use for long-term monitoring (NDMP) –50 boxes –Grid approx. 20m apart.

Other survey methods Natural nests –May require extensive survey effort Hair tubes –Cheap –Use in large numbers –Low success rate

Dormouse surveys - Good practice Does site fall in known range Check for existing records (LRC, NBN) Are dormice known to be present? Conduct survey Report presence of dormice to LRC

Dormouse surveys - Legislation Nut hunts, hair tubes, natural nests (no disturbance) – Non invasive, no licence required Presence of dormice unknown –Nest tubes, nest boxes can be checked without licence Presence of dormice known –Nest tubes, nest boxes require disturbance licence to check

Where to look for dormouse –Woodland but hazel is not crucial –Conifer wood –Scrub –Hedgerow –Small habitat areas –Roadside/railside verges –Dormice are probably under-recorded Dormice may be present in any wood or scrub habitat within their range

Important elements for dormouse conservation Habitat management to provide: –plants for successional food –plants for autumn food –continuity of arboreal linkage Dormice occupy small ranges so above are needed within a relatively small area

Dormouse population density SpeciesHabitatMean Spring density Dormouse Optimal – diverse wood with abundant, vigorous understory 4 to 6 adults DormouseOak woodland with hazel2 adults DormouseScrubunknown DormouseConifer woodland1 to 3 adults DormouseHedgerow1.3 adults Wood mouseDeciduous woodland40 plus Bank voleDeciduous woodland100 plus

Problems for dormice Inappropriate or lack of woodland management Deer and rabbits Poor hedgerow management Habitat fragmentation Development Climate change –Warm winters –Wet summers

Mitigation for dormice Maintain and link areas of appropriate habitat Increase plant diversity Initiate long term habitat management Dormouse nest boxes can increase habitat carrying capacity What’s good for dormice is good for lots of other species

Dormouse reintroductions Substitute for natural recolonisation Restore lost range Stimulate conservation effort Focus for landscape restoration Why reintroductions?

Why are dormice good? Key species –Plant diversity –Shrub structure Woodlands Hedgerows Scrub Responsibility What’s good for dormice is good for many other species

People’s Trust for Endangered Species, 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4BG Registered charity no