Bottom Wood
Bottom Wood
Finding dormice
Invisible animals
Because dormice are active in the dark and are agile climbers, they are almost impossible to see. In the past, they were sometimes found asleep by woodsmen, but otherwise were rarely encountered. Luckily, for those who wish to study them, it has been found that they readily use nest boxes for their daytime sleep. Many woods today have a shortage of natural tree holes they can use. Dormice can weave nests in bushes, but will also do this inside a nest box.
A dormouse nest box is like a tit box, but with the entrance hole facing the tree trunk. The box has a removable inspection lid. Using boxes like this, much has been found out about the daily life of the dormouse and its breeding. It is also possible to get measurements of any dormice discovered in boxes
Licensed to peer
Dormice are protected, and by law must not be hurt or disturbed in any way. People who carry out dormice surveys and inspect their nest boxes must have a licence from Natural England. Bottom Wood is one of a hundred or more sites in England where dormice are counted and investigated for the National Dormouse Monitoring Project, and has a licensee to carry out the work.
Invisible animals
Because dormice are active in the dark and are agile climbers, they are almost impossible to see. In the past, they were sometimes found asleep by woodsmen, but otherwise were rarely encountered. Luckily, for those who wish to study them, it has been found that they readily use nest boxes for their daytime sleep. Many woods today have a shortage of natural tree holes they can use. Dormice can weave nests in bushes, but will also do this inside a nest box.
A dormouse nest box is like a tit box, but with the entrance hole facing the tree trunk. The box has a removable inspection lid. Using boxes like this, much has been found out about the daily life of the dormouse and its breeding. It is also possible to get measurements of any dormice discovered in boxes
Licensed to peer
Dormice are protected, and by law must not be hurt or disturbed in any way. People who carry out dormice surveys and inspect their nest boxes must have a licence from Natural England. Bottom Wood is one of a hundred or more sites in England where dormice are counted and investigated for the National Dormouse Monitoring Project, and has a licensee to carry out the work.
