Dormice signs

[tufftie]

We went to Wassail Wood yesterday to look for nuts nibbled by dormice as part of the Great Nut Hunt. There has already been dormice recorded there in the past and they wanted to see if there were still communities living there. Pleased to say we found some perfectly holed hazels confirming there presence.

We are off to two other woods today to see if we can find some more We are also going to have a look in the woods surrounding us to see if we can find evidence of them here. It would be great if they came into our garden once the hedge is fully established

[Melus]

Good luck Tuftie and I hope your quest is successful.
Doormouse is the one small mammal species I have yet to see. Keep us posted with your results

Regards
Gary

[tufftie]

Thanks Melus

We have found more evidence of them in the two other woods where they are known to have colonies

Over the next few days or so we are going to look in the woods around us - where so far none have been reported. Fingers crossed!

[aeshna5]

Good luck + let us know your findings.

[Dogghound]

It might be worth incorporating you hedge along or into the woodland if you can? They dont like travelling on the group or crossing very open places. Plenty of Hazel would be appreciated by this species and increase its chances of coming to your garden. Also it would be recommended that you provide a strip of rough vegetation either side of the hedge this would boost small mammal numbers and would interest Harvest mice as well. Fingers-crossed .

[tufftie]

Thanks Dogghound We have got quite a bit of hazel for the hedge and there is lots around here! Living on the edge of a wood helps!

[Tracey.A]

It would be fantastic if you do find evidence in the woods by your garden. Dogghound's advice re encouraging them, will hopefully bring them into your garden. I'll keep my fingers crossed Keep us posted Tuftie

Tracey

[animartco]

Erm, just to make it clear about the nuts. Field mice also make 'clean' holes in nuts. The difference is in the shape of the tooth marks. Very difficult to tell apart. Pictures would be appreciated. Did you find any summer nests? The other thing about searching woods for doormice in winter is that you can crush half the population underfoot! There should be signs in all wildlife woods to say STICK TO THE PATH!!!!!! Or perhaps you did. if so, profound apologies.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by animartco

Erm, just to make it clear about the nuts. Field mice also make 'clean' holes in nuts. The difference is in the shape of the tooth marks. Very difficult to tell apart.

Woodmice always make a slightly corrigated edge around the hole as they gnaw across the opening. Dormice always have a smooth circular edge, the teeth marks are around the outer edge, with a smooth inner rim. In woodmouse this is not really the case with the inner side of the nut gnawed. Another feature worth noting is dormice almost always gnaw part of the hilum. This is not a feature associated with woodmice.

I agree with what you say regarding disturbance of hibernation sites, they can hibernate under leaf litter and this potentially results in a threat of being trampled.