Our Coast, Our Sea - Helping to locate the dozy dormouse

4 May 2010

Northumberland Wildlife Trust has received 20 dormouse nesting boxes and 100 plastic research tubes from The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) to aid its search for dormice in Northumberland.

Whilst dormice may be more common in other parts of the UK, it is thought that this region hosts the most northerly population of the Hazel Dormouse in the UK.

The London based charity is so concerned that the furry little mammals are disappearing at such an alarming rate, it sent the nesting boxes and research tubes for use at a number of Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s reserves in Northumberland.

The boxes will be regularly checked for signs of nesting activity and the tubes will be inspected for traces of dormouse hair.

The Hazel Dormouse lives in semi natural woodland with heavy coppice of hazel trees – hence the name. However, they are close to extinction in the region due to the disappearance of their natural woodland habitat. During WW1 huge forests of trees were cut down for the war effort with them not being replaced until much later in the century.