What is this?

[Jersali]

Hello all,
not sure if this is the right forum (guessing this is mammal related)
There are lots of these, sited 2 - 6 feet from the ground with a fixed "door" facing down.
What are they?

Thanks
Al

[faz]

looks like a trap for doormice ? mustalids ? where was photo taken and time of year ?
welcome to WAB

[Kayleigh]

I think the woodland trust do a survey by putting these in hedges to see if small mammals use them to get an idea of what is in the area.
there should be more than one of these boxes they put them all along the hedgerows in my area last spring.

[Jersali]

Thanks Kayleigh, I saw at least a dozen in a half mile stretch on a "green wall" that forms part of a network across the marshes at Reculver, they are in the bushes that straddle the walkway - with full public access.
faz I'm not sure there is any kind of trap mechanism (will have another look), just appears to be fixed open. I took the pic today, some of them have clearly been there a while, out of sight while the trees/shrubs were in leaf.
Hope to get back in afew days..
Al

[Joel.W]

Its a Dormouse nest tube. A cheaper quicker alternative to the nest boxes. They are used in the spring, summer and early autumn by dormice in the day when they are sleeping. There is no trap mechanism as the animals are free to come and go as they please. It is simply a tube with a hole at one end and a sort of sliding tray which can be removed to check for dormice presence or sign. Its illegal to disturb Dormice and you need a license to handle them but there is a good chance that the dormice are hibernating on the ground now and not in the nest tubes. But, as it has been so mild they may still be in use so if you do go and have a look be quiet as not to disturb any potential occupants.

[Kayleigh]

Well ALL the ones near me have been cut and destroyed when the farmer cut the hedges about a month back.
All this land is going to be houses so whatever is left wildlife wise will have to find another home.

[Burko]

What would be the use of putting one of these about 8ft high and right on the end of a tree branch overhanging a footpath or, indeed, very low down on the same footpath heavily used by dog walkers?

I ask this because I've seen these somewhere where there's a proposed urban sprawl and I feel that the construction friendly 'eco' consultants are trying to disprove that dormice are present there by not correctly siting their boxes.

Would this be the case?

[Jersali]

Originally Posted by Joel.W

Its a Dormouse nest tube. A cheaper quicker alternative to the nest boxes. They are used in the spring, summer and early autumn by dormice in the day when they are sleeping. There is no trap mechanism as the animals are free to come and go as they please. It is simply a tube with a hole at one end and a sort of sliding tray which can be removed to check for dormice presence or sign. Its illegal to disturb Dormice and you need a license to handle them but there is a good chance that the dormice are hibernating on the ground now and not in the nest tubes. But, as it has been so mild they may still be in use so if you do go and have a look be quiet as not to disturb any potential occupants.

Thanks Joel,
these are easily accessible (and of course highly visible now), there are several where a pair of binoculars would be all thats required, to see inside though to be honest. having resisted the temptation anyway/ now that I know what they are I wont' intrude further.
Cheers
Al

[Jersali]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Well ALL the ones near me have been cut and destroyed when the farmer cut the hedges about a month back.
All this land is going to be houses so whatever is left wildlife wise will have to find another home.

How disappointing Kayleigh, what gain is there in knowing how much dormouse/wildlife will be disrupted if houses are going to be built there anyway, what is the general terrain on the site?

[Jersali]

Originally Posted by Burko

What would be the use of putting one of these about 8ft high and right on the end of a tree branch overhanging a footpath or, indeed, very low down on the same footpath heavily used by dog walkers?

I ask this because I've seen these somewhere where there's a proposed urban sprawl and I feel that the construction friendly 'eco' consultants are trying to disprove that dormice are present there by not correctly siting their boxes.

Would this be the case?

Hello Burko, these would have been sited presumably when they were not so easily seen, even so - siting on the bank side and not the path side would make them less conspicuos.
I will flag down Environment agency 4x4 next time I'm there to learn more
Al