Hazel dormice thrive at Killerton National Trust site in Devon
Experts say hazel dormice are thriving at Killerton National Trust in Devon after habitat work and monitoring helped the population remain stable while numbers fall elsewhere.
Monitoring reveals stable local population
Rangers at Killerton have installed 100 nest boxes across their estate to support the animals. Between April and October annually, staff members measure and log information for every mouse. The trust reports that these mammals continue to thrive in this specific area despite wider declines. Rangers found individuals in new areas which indicates they are spreading across the property.
National trends show severe decline
According to The People's Trust for Endangered Species, numbers have dropped by more than two thirds across the UK since 2000. Experts attribute this drop largely to habitat fragmentation affecting many regions across the country. Hazel dormice typically weigh between 20g and 40g before they begin hibernating for the winter. Warmer weather wakes them up while wet springs can affect their ability to forage effectively.
Hedge planting drives habitat success
Fi Hailstone, senior ranger for the National Trust at Killerton, says Devon is a stronghold because of its strong hedge network. The team has been monitoring the dormouse population since 2018 and noticed they remain fairly stable during that time. Planting more hedges and trees allows the mammals to spread across the estate without immediate woodland effects. Anyone finding a dormouse in winter should alert the RSPCA or local animal shelter instead of picking it up.
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