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