Dormouse?

yanto1410 · #1 (**permalink**) 31-12-2009, 09:38 AM

I spotted a gingery/orangey/coppery coloured rodent about the size of a hamster scuttling towards me in bramble undergrowth in a local wood. Unfortunately as it was running through leaf litter, I couldn't get any other identifying features. I thought it was a dormouse. According to this site, they are found in Southern counties and Lake district.
About a mile away I have also found telltale perfectly drilled holes in the side of Hazelnuts. This was a sure sign of a Dormouse when I was a kid living in Hampshire.
If it isn't a Dormouse, what is it?

P.S. I live in North Wales/England border area.

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 31-12-2009, 02:08 PM

Its unlikely to be that active at this time of year as they hibernate, although no other rodent fits that description and the hazelnuts sound good. Possibly a Bank vole? these can be very rufous, or Wood mouse?.

Ukwildlifeo · #3 (**permalink**) 31-12-2009, 02:18 PM

I agree with dogghound - its unlikely to be a dormouse at this time of year as they should be hibernating. Plus the fact it was on the ground counts against it as they tend stay off the ground, climbing through the twigs and branches instead - mind you if one woke up it could have been on the ground after crawling from the base of the tree it was hibernating under. But I think a bank vole or wood mouse would be more likely but the hazelnuts could indicate that dormice are present in the area, if not active at the moment.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 31-12-2009, 02:59 PM

This picture illustrates the coppery/red colour that bank vole's can show.

shirl · #5 (**permalink**) 31-12-2009, 04:37 PM

I would agree that a dormouse is unlikely- normal hibernation time is Oct/Nov to April, the colour and your description of "hamster size" would suggest bank vole, they are active all through the year.

Ahirl

yanto1410 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010, 08:45 AM

Thank you very much all.
I should have said, I saw him/her in early September. It was the recent spotting of a couple of Hazelnuts that prompted me to seek expert advice. I had cosidered the voles, but the voles around the area are quite a dark brown colour and extremely quick. This little fluffball was quite slow, and I would say a little larger than a common/short-tailed/bank vole.
Thankyou all for your replies none the less.
Have a great New Year.

Ukwildlifeo · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010, 08:53 AM

In september I would think it was quite possible. Do you remember if it had a bushy tail or not? It is a distinguishing feature of dormice and the hazel dormouse resembles a small red squirrel with its bushy tail.

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010, 12:43 PM

I still think the behaviour suggests bank vole, also bank voles are slightly larger than dormice. Although as you say it was a while ago so size can be hard to remember exactly. As Ukwildlifeo says dormice would still be active in September.

yanto1410 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-01-2010, 01:52 PM

Hi, it had a hairy tail - I wouldn't go as far as to say it was bushy like a squirrel. I know where it was, and as dog walker I frequent the area quite often. I'll take a camera with me in future, never know I may get lucky !!
Thanks

eekoh · #10 (**permalink**) 15-01-2010, 05:44 PM

Fluffy tail sounds like dormouse to me and I know of a few sites in Denbighshire so they're definitely present in north wales. If you're interested in dormice you should look up the North Wales Wildlife Trust, they have a monitoring programme and are actively looking for people to check our their local woodlands to try and map out their distribution in the region.
North Wales Wildlife Trust

Also, if you collect up a few of the nuts you've found and send them to the dormouse project officer she'll be able to confirm for definite whether they have been opened by a dormouse. (or post a pic on here and I can probably tell you)