Dormouse-asleep or dead (1 Viewer)

[devon.birder]

When I checked one of my seed feeders this morning I found a Dormouse on top of the seeds. It was curled up but I don't know if it is dead or just fallen asleep. I have taken it out and placed it on top of some dry leaves in a plant pot and will wait to see if it is still there in a couple of days time.
Whilst sea watching at St. Ives, Cornwall last Tuesday I was talking to a lady who was an expert on Dormice and she said that sometimes they just fall asleep at this time of the year so I will keep my fingers crossed that this one will be OK. Last year a Dormouse used one of my bird nest boxes to over winter.

 

[Charles Harper]

It's an ex-dormouse.

 

[Andrew]

It has got the right idea, sleeping where the food is!

Did you get some pictures?

 

[devon.birder]

It has got the right idea, sleeping where the food is!

Did you get some pictures?

No I didn't take any photos Andrew, I thought about it but decided that if it was dead it would be a bit morbid. If it is still alive then it is safe and warm in the plant pot just in case it wakes up. Roger

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

It's an ex-dormouse.

Surely it's still a dormouse, whether it's dead or not?

 

[trishhickson]

Well said Elizabeth! I would love to see a Dormouse, preferably a live one. I do hope this one is OK.

 

[Andrew]

No I didn't take any photos Andrew, I thought about it but decided that if it was dead it would be a bit morbid. If it is still alive then it is safe and warm in the plant pot just in case it wakes up. Roger

I see where you are coming from. Not a nice thing to consider doing. If it wakes up then you have no chance of a photo but then again knowing it is okay overcomes the disappointment of not getting a picture.

 

[devon.birder]

I sent an E Mail to Devon Wildlife Trust and have just had a very full reply. It could well be that after a big meal of sunflower seeds it has fallen asleep and I have been told that I have done the right thing in placing it out of danger. Apparently as Dormice are covered by the Wildlife & Countryside Act you actually need a license to handle them but it is acceptable to handle them for the reason that I did. They also can give you a nasty nip but this is the first time that I have actually had to handle one, normally I just place the feeder on the ground with the top off to let them escape back to safety.
At least the Jay with a broken wing was pleased as in getting the Dormouse out of the feeder I spilled a lot of seed on the ground although I always place a pile of seed in the area where it normally feeds and it still seems quite healthy.

 

[Andrew]

The licence bit is very interesting! I wonder how many know of this. I suppose anyone with good sense would know in your situation it was the right thing to do and if they came across a nest in the wild then it was a definite MEGA no-go area. Anyone who does not has no respect for the countryside and wildlife.

 

[Nina P]

I did know about needing a license, as I had seen this on one of the local news items recently covered the fact that there are apparently two types, (How to tell the difference I have no idea,) but they are getting sleepy and drop off anywhere, but they are very keen on hazelnuts and I have the classic signs on the perfect round nibbled end to say I have one here, somewhere, and it is here again this year. I don't know where it is nesting, but all the clues are beneath the huge hazel bush at the bottom of my garden.
Did this doormouse climb a pole for the sunflower seeds? as I have had the seeds scattered around the one near the hazel bush, and wonder what is doing this.

 

[devon.birder]

Did this doormouse climb a pole for the sunflower seeds? as I have had the seeds scattered around the one near the hazel bush, and wonder what is doing this.

As I know that the Dormouse can get into this feeder I hang it very close to the trunk of an Ivy covered Cherry Tree. However two years ago I watched another Dormouse feeding from a nut feeder in the back garden and it had to climb a tree, walk along a branch and then scramble down a piece of old plastic covered clothes line to get to the nut feeder.
I have many hazel nut trees in my garden and like you I was aware that I had Dormice many years before I actually saw one. This one seems to prefer sunflower seeds to hazel nuts though and it always leaves the evidence behind ie the uneaten husks.
Whilst the Devon Wildlife Trust said they hibernate underground last Winter a Dormouse used one of my nest boxes. Roger

 

[Nina P]

Sounds realy interesting, and thanks for the answer, I should try and keep a closer watch on the furthest feeder then, as it is pretty close to the sunflower heart feeder which is being emptied completely every day, and the food scattered under the tube feeder. I'm so glad I buy it by the sack now!

 

[Jos Stratford]

At least the Jay with a broken wing was pleased as in getting the Dormouse out of the feeder I spilled a lot of seed on the ground although I always place a pile of seed in the area where it normally feeds and it still seems quite healthy.

Ah ha, I was wondering how he was getting on Jays are becoming a bit pesky in my garden - digging holes in the lawn to hide their sunflowers! Total waste of time - lawn will be under half metre of snow soon

 

[Anthony Morton]

On a similar tack, the following names all describe one of our rarest mammals in the UK:-

1. Glis glis. 2. Myoxus glis. 3. Edible dormouse. 4. Fat dormouse. 5. Squirrel-tailed dormouse.

This chinchilla-like animal was introduced in 1902 and released onto the Rothschild estate at Tring, Herts where it thrived. Rather surprisingly, perhaps, the entire UK population is still contained in just 200 square miles of the Chiltern Hills, formed by the triangle of land between Aylesbury, Beaconsield and Luton. Apparently they hibernate for some 7 months of the year, yet have the ability to wake up immediately when touched.

Two useful sites for further information are:-

http://www.amersham.org.uk/glis.htm

http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th1l.htm

 

[Mickymouse]

Hmm introduced I see, better cull them then!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mick

 

[alan_rymer]

Hmm introduced I see, better cull them then!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mick

Whats the reason you want to cull them?.

Alan

 

[Mickymouse]

I don't want to cull anything, I was being sarcastic, I had not long read the Rudy Duck and Cormorant threads, both left me feeling depressed.

Mick

 

[Anthony Morton]

The Glis Glis has demonstrated its ability to cope with our British climate for around 100 years now. However, can anyone offer a suggestion as to why it is still only found in one tiny 200 square mile pocket of countryside centred around its original release point in the Chiltern Hills?

By comparison the grey squirrel, which was only introduced from North America a few years earlier in the late 1800's, seems to have colonised most of the British Isles despite on-going attempts to eradicate it. What is the explanation for the huge difference in range extension between these two similar mammals?

 

[pete woodall]

Well, hibernating for 7 months of the year (even in your climate!!) can't leave too much time over for range expansion.

Pete W

 

[jurek]

Edible Dormouse, at least in Poland, is quite specialised in living in mature forests. Possibly this area is surrounded by more treeless country?