18 Jul 2024
The parent dormice being weighed to track health at last month’s survey. No images or measurements were taken of the baby dormice or mother this month to avoid disturbance.

For this first time since surveying begun 17 years ago, baby dormice have been found at a nature reserve in East Devon.

The EDDC Countryside team conduct monthly surveys of dormouse boxes at Knapp Copse and Holyford Woods Local Nature Reserves.

This month, five baby dormice were found during a survey at Knapp Copse Local Nature Reserve, a site owned by Devon County Council, and managed by the East Devon District Council Countryside team.

Dormice are rare and vulnerable to extinction and are protected by law as a conservation priority. Conducted by James Chubb, the team manager and a licenced handler, the monthly surveys are used to monitor the presence of dormice in East Devon, and to understand more about their ecology and the effects of climate change.

The East Devon District Council Countryside team manage woodland sites at Holyford Woods and Knapp Copse to promote dormouse habitat. The dormouse boxes are surveyed monthly between April and December, outside of hibernation periods.

Countryside manager, James said: “Despite a national decline in numbers, ongoing surveying in East Devon has revealed an uplift in these adorable sleepy creatures at our Local Nature Reserves. We have also been able to identify how they are adapting to the challenge on climate change with hibernation taking place later each year.”

To discover more about the sites the Countryside team manage visit:
www.wildeastdevon.co.uk/nature-reserves/