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Lancashire Times
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11:00 AM 21st November 2019
nature

New Report Reveals Britain’s Hazel Dormice Have Declined By Over 50% Since 2000

 
Loss of quality woodland habitat is a major factor and woodland management is critical to halting the decline of this charismatic species

A new report published by People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) on Wednesday 20 November 2019 has revealed that Britain’s population of hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) has declined by 51% since the millennium, decreasing on average by 3.8% per year.

The State of Britain’s Dormice 2019 report underlines the importance of providing the right habitat for dormice, and maintaining such habitats via correct woodland management practices, is the key to bringing this endangered species back from the brink.

How you can help

1. Take your family for a leisurely stroll in the woods and whilst you’re there hunt for nibbled hazel nuts to see if you can find evidence of dormice. https://ptes.org/campaigns/dormice/surveying-and-monitoring-hazel-dormice/dormouse-nut-hunt/

2. Tell PTES if you see a dormouse in your garden, local woodland or hedgerow, using the National Dormouse Database. https://surveydata.ptes.org/dormouse-database

3. If you think you might have dormice in your wood, look to see how you can check. https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/NDMP-2018.pdf

4. If you own or manage a small woodland see the PTES Managing Small Woodlands for Dormice advice. https://ptes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/managing-woodlands-for-dormice-final.pdf

5. Join your local mammal group or dormouse group, and get out in the woods with a local conservation work party such as those organised by Wildlife Trusts.

More information can be found here:
https://ptes.org/campaigns/dormice/