Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 75
COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
only active from May until October. A
dormouse will only emerge at night, and
spends most of its time above ground in
trees and shrubs searching for food. When
dormice are not eating they are sleeping!
Nests are constructed from moss, grass and
honeysuckle bark. The nests are woven
around the animal and measure roughly 15
cm in diameter. There is much that is not
known about the dormouse including their
social organisation, but it is believed that
they occasionally live in pairs.
Breeding
Dormice typically breed once or twice a year.
Nests are built low down in brambles or
much higher in the tree canopy. The size of
the litter can range between one and seven
young, but on average four are produced.
The young are born in July or August and
leave the nest and become independent
within two months.
Your local
Wildlife Trust
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust works to create a better
future for wildlife and wild places
in Hampshire and the Island. As the
leading local wildlife conservation
charity, it looks after 57 wildlife
reserves, has 27,000 members and
1,000 volunteers. The Trust manages
its own land and advises other
landowners how to manage their
land with wildlife in mind. Staff and
volunteers also carry out surveys and
gather data to monitor how our local
wildlife is doing. Find out more at
www.hwt.org.uk.
Tracks and Signs
Dormice open hazelnuts in a very particular
way, and this can be used to identify
whether dormice are present. A hazelnut
opened by a dormouse will have a round
hole, with teeth marks at an angle around
the outside, but a smooth inner rim.
Threats and Predators
Dormice have few natural predators, but
are occasionally eaten by owls, weasels
and domestic cats. The biggest threat to
the species is the loss or fragmentation of
suitable woodland habitat and starvation
during the cold winter months.
Dormouse close up.
life
Businesses
Support
for the
Wildlife
Trust
M Morris
Businesses on the Island are doing their
bit to support wildlife by joining the
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife
Trust as Wildlife Investors.
The membership scheme has now
grown to over 50 businesses since
its launch last year. Island businesses
including CAR Gardens, RJR Solicitors
and Newport Golf Club have been
among the first on the Island to support
the Wildlife Trust.
The scheme’s benefits make for good
business – particularly the use of the
Trust’s logo, the framed membership
certificate and the associated publicity.
We are still looking to grow the
number of business members, so if
you think your organisation could help
support the Trust, please contact Peter
Hutchings on 01489 774400, email
[email protected] or visit the website
www.hwt.org.uk
Dormouse sleeping.
Conservation
The Hazel Dormouse is one of Britain’s most
endangered mammals, and is protected by
law. It is an offence to kill, injure, disturb
them in their nests, collect, trap or sell them
except under license. The dormouse is also
a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species. This
recognises that dormice are declining, and
sets out to plan and implement actions that
will protect and conserve the species.
How can I find out more?
Contact WildLine, Hampshire and Isle of
Wight Wildlife Trust’s wildlife information
service who can provide additional
factsheets, or details to join one of our
species groups. Call 01489 774446 or email
[email protected].
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a charity. Join today and help your local wildlife www.hwt.org.uk
The Island's new funky radio station www.wightFM.com
75