Reintroduction of rare hazel dormice bolsters Bedfordshire’s only population - People’s Trust for Endangered Species
Following the county’s first and only dormouse reintroduction in 2001, this release boosts genetic diversity for this isolated population
This week, 10 rare hazel dormice have been reintroduced into a Bedfordshire woodland to bolster the county’s only existing population. The release will create a bigger and more genetically diverse population of hazel dormice in the county, and is part of ongoing conservation efforts to save this charismatic species from extinction in the UK.
The reintroduction, led by wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), builds on a previous release which took place in 2001 in the same woodland cared for by Forestry England. Over the past 23 years the population of dormice has thrived, with their range extending beyond the original release site. Now, a further 10 of the tiny golden-coated animals will be added to the existing population.
Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer at People’s Trust for Endangered Species says: “Britain’s hazel dormice population has declined by an astounding 70% since 2000 and they’ve been lost from 20 English counties over the past century. Our annual reintroductions, alongside habitat management, landscape projects and monitoring, are paramount to the species’ long-term survival. To date we’ve released 1,112 dormice into 25 different woodlands in 13 counties – including six English counties where they had previously been lost. It’s extremely encouraging that descendants of Bedfordshire’s original population are still flourishing, and by introducing more dormice this summer we hope that they go from strength-to-strength, which is much-needed good news for a species on the brink.”
Managed by PTES since 2000, the annual dormouse reintroductions are part of Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and the release day is the culmination of months of hard work by several partner organisations, including the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group (including Wildwood Trust), Paignton Zoo and ZSL. This year, the dormice have been released into a woodland managed by Forestry England and supported by the Greensand Trust. Local volunteers from the Bedfordshire Mammal Group – some who have monitored the population since the 2001 release – will help the new dormice settle into their new home. They will also continue long-term monitoring to ensure the population thrives.
Posted On: 07/06/2024
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