Hazel Dormouse

The hazel dormouse were once widespread in Britain up to the Scottish border but now are mostly restricted to southern England, Wales and Cumbria. Dormice have a preference for successional woodland habitats that arise after coppicing, ride widening and glade creation. May also be found in older hedgerows and scrubland.

In summer, they spend most of their time among tree branches and can often be found in old bird nests. They are also known to weave their own nests, using strips of honeysuckle bark or similar materials, surrounded by leaves. During winter, they enter torpor to conserve energy, typically at the base of hedgerows or in leaf litter on the forest floor. 

Declines in numbers are thought to be attributed to slow reproduction rate and more dispersal behaviours. Populations also have a preference for old coppiced woodlands  with a well-developed understory. These understories require significant management to maintain and, as such, their presence has declined over the last few decades. 

• A dropping sample with sufficient biological material to be used as a reserve is required in case the extraction is unsuccessful the first time: the fresher a sample is, the more likely the test will be able to extract viable DNA.
• Other viable sample types include fur/hair, tissue and blood.