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Update on Dormouse Monitoring in Cheshire

The dormouse population in Cheshire has been steadily declining since 2007 and we have found no conclusive evidence of dormice over the last three seasons. Following a recent meeting with the landowners, we are stepping back from annual monitoring at the release site.

Emma Cartledge is currently undertaking her PhD at the Wych release site in Cheshire to try to understand the reasons for this decline. Cheshire Wildlife Trust and the landowners will continue to support Emma’s fieldwork at the site and Emma will still be looking for volunteers to help collect data for the length of her PhD.

Part of Emma’s research work will involve collecting data on habitat around the monitoring boxes and comparing it back to historical data as well as monitoring the yellow-necked mouse populations at Wych to see if their distribution and spread corresponds with the dormouse decline.

I would like to thank all the volunteers who have helped monitor the dormice over the years and carry out coppicing works in the woodland. It is not an easy site to survey and some of you have been checking the boxes since the first dormice were released in 1996. A tremendous effort.

Without the continued support of volunteers, we would not have been able to collect the data on this population. Such a long term data set, combined with Emma’s research work will be a valuable resource that we hope will help inform future dormouse re-introductions and conservation work.

Andrea Powell

October 2019, Denbighshire

Denbighshire surveyors, October 2019. Photo by Helen Bradshaw.

On 24th October, three groups of volunteers set out to check the nest boxes for signs of hazel dormice. As well as gathering the vital records for the PTES National Dormouse Monitoring Programme, all teams had a wonderful day, with everyone catching a glimpse of dormice.

Overall, we spotted 16 individuals, including 10 juveniles. We had seen 4 of these animals in previous surveys, evidenced by the presence of a microchip. One team was lucky enough to find an animal in the classic dormouse pose, while in torpor.

This was the last survey of the year before the dormice go into hibernation. The dormice won’t be using the nest boxes over the winter, so a team of hardy volunteers will head to the woods to clean out the nest boxes, ready for next year’s dormice.

A dormouse found during the Denbighshire surveys. Photo by Emma Cartledge.

Emma Cartledge

October 2019, Cheshire

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  Apodemus mouse hiding in mossy nest

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  Hazelnut cache

After the recent floods and torrents we were fortunate enough to have a break in the weather to check the dormice in Cheshire. We set out on Tuesday the 22^nd October on a clear sunny morning. Volunteers were a bit thin on the ground but we managed to check around 130 boxes between the three of us, well over half the boxes, concentrating on the boxes around the footprint tunnels and areas of coppicing works.

It has been a good year for hazelnuts this year and many of the boxes were stuffed full with nut stores. All of them looked decidedly like they belonged to yellow necked or wood mice, with no signs of Dormouse caches. We also found a number of yellow necks and wood mouse families huddled in the boxes. There were no dormice in the boxes again but we did find some interesting nests with lots of grassy material as well as leaves but no structure.

September 2019, Denbighshire

Denbighshire Volunteers, September 2019

On Wednesday 18th September a band of experienced and enthusiastic volunteers searched the site for dormice. It was a slick survey, having been practised over many years, and several dormice were found.

We were split into three teams to check the rows of nest boxes. In the afternoon, my team was fortunate to find two boxes occupied by dormice. Each box contained an adult and several youngsters, suggesting they were family groups. We were able to micro-chip all the youngsters as they were above the requisite weight.

It was a genial outing, catching up with the latest news from fellow volunteers – while also gathering scientific data that will help the plight of this endangered species.

Kevin Griffiths

June 2019, Denbighshire

Denbighshire Surveyors, June 2019

The June survey began in jeopardy with wet weather preventing our start. We had to retreat to the local community centre cafe where we watched the rain bouncing off the pavement.

Eventually, after consulting several different forecasts, we decided to make a start and by lunch-time the rain had stopped.

Despite the late start, we managed to check all the nest boxes by mid-afternoon – though our rapid progress can be attributed to the low number of dormice found.

Kevin Griffiths