UK: 'Pioneer" Dormice Released in Woodland
Copyright 2001 The Press Association
July 5, 2001
By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News
Captive bred young dormice are today being released into the wild at a secret woodland location in Cambridgeshire to try to boost the population of the declining species.
The move is organised by English Nature, Mammals Trust UK, Royal Holloway, University of London and Forest Enterprise as part of an ongoing Species Recovery Plan for the dormouse.
Forty-four young animals will at first be placed in wire mesh acclimatisation cages wrapped around the branches of trees, where they will be fed and monitored.
After 10 days, openings will be made in the mesh, allowing the dormice to disperse into the woods to find their own food and make their nests.
Dr Valerie Keeble, chief executive of the Mammals Trust UK, said: "Dormice have become locally extinct over large areas of the country.
"Now that woodlands are being better managed for wildlife, we can begin to reverse the decline.
"Reintroduction is the only way to achieve this, because dormice cannot naturally recolonise isolated patches of woodland."
Dr Tony Mitchell-Jones, mammal expert from English Nature, said: "The dormouse is a priority species, and a key indicator for ancient woodland.
"If we can re-establish breeding colonies in suitable woodland it will be great news for dormice, and a milestone for conservation."
Jim Alexander, chief ranger at Forest Enterprise, which owns and manages the release site, said: "We are delighted to be part of this partnership, which will benefit dormice tremendously."
Dormice are attractive creatures with light brown fur, large black eyes and a furry tail.
Native to Britain and historically widespread throughout England, they are essentially woodland creatures, living in the canopy and finding food mainly in the undergrowth in summer and hibernating on the forest floor in the winter.
In summer dormice make distinctive grapefruit-sized nests from vegetation, particularly honeysuckle bark, in which to rear their young.