Dormice numbers at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre highest in two years

A recent survey of nesting boxes at the wetland reserve found four live dormice and eight dormice nests inside the 61 nesting boxes onsite.

Two of the nesting dormice were in boxes on the edges of the recently completed Arun Riverlife project.

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre manager Dave Fairlamb said: “It’s great news that wildlife like dormice are moving back into the revitalised habitats of the Arun Riverlife project so quickly after the project was finished last June.”

Work on the Arun Riverlife project involved cutting trees close to hedgerows where dormice nest, and this work was licensed by Natural England.

In the UK the dormouse has been protected since 1988 by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

During the tree work, licensed dormice handlers on the WWT Arundel team did daily hand searches of sections to be cut to ensure no dormice were in these zones.

WWT warden Sam Halpin said: “Our dormouse surveys don’t give us exact population numbers because all the dormice on the reserve do not nest in our boxes. Most build their own nest balls of leaves and grass inside the hedgerows.”

The survey in October was the last one of the year. Dormice hibernate in the winter and wardens leave them to sleep.