Hazel Dormice Released in Leicestershire
On June 12, 2025, conservationists have released more than twenty hazel dormice into a secret woodland location in Leicestershire, to help fight their extinction.
Hazel dormice are small rodents, native to Europe and Asia, that now live mostly in southern England and Wales. They have gone extinct in 17 countries! Each dormouse is no bigger than the palm of a person’s hand and can weigh just 20 grams. They prefer habitats like mature mixed woodlands.
Hazel dormice may be becoming extinct due to climate change, deforestation, and land use changes. Right now, veterinarians are using stethoscopes to check each dormouse’s heart and lungs. healthy and free from diseases that could threaten their survival or introduce disease into the wild population.
In an effort to bring the dormice back, local groups began breeding the species in captivity. In the last 30 years, the local groups have successfully reintroduced over 1,000 dormice into woodlands across the country.
One of these local groups, ZSL is a science driven conservation charity that works to restore wildlife in the United Kingdom. Ten dormice spent a total of eight weeks in quarantine at ZSL, where veterinarians ensured that they were healthy and would not transfer any disease to other local species. The ten dormice were taken to a release site in Bedfordshire. For now, they will stay in release cages to allow the dormice to adapt to their environment. In a week, they will have their final checkup. Then, they will be free to roam and explore their new habitat.
“This year’s release aims to create a bigger and more genetically diverse population of dormice,” Gerard said. restore the population of these hazel dormice. These conservationists will continue to monitor their health and help them adapt to their new environments.
References:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/06/14/hazel-dormice-endangered-species-conservation/