Home / Environment / Dormice Return: 40 Rare Mammals Released in Leicestershire
Dormice Return: 40 Rare Mammals Released in Leicestershire
12 Jun
Summary
- Over 40 rare hazel dormice were released into ancient woodland.
- This reintroduction is part of national efforts to save the species.
- Dormice have declined by over 70% nationally since 2000.
Over 40 rare hazel dormice were released into ancient woodland in Leicestershire this week, bolstering national initiatives by the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). These reintroductions aim to counter a dramatic national decline of over 70% in dormice populations since 2000.
Conservationists attribute this decline to the loss of old woodlands, inadequate habitat management, and the neglect of vital hedgerows. This release follows a successful 2025 reintroduction of 21 dormice into the same woodland, establishing Leicestershire's sole known dormouse population.
Last year's introduced dormice have bred successfully. The additional release at Bradgate Park aims to increase numbers and enhance genetic diversity. PTES notes that reintroduction programs, alongside habitat restoration and sympathetic woodland management, are crucial for the species' recovery.
Volunteers and rangers have monitored nest boxes since the 2025 release, finding evidence of breeding, with 46 nests and 11 young recorded in August and September of that year. This success encourages further releases to potentially connect populations across the National Forest.
Dormice are bred in captivity by partners like the Wildwood Trust. Before release, they undergo health checks and quarantine. They are then acclimatized in mesh enclosures with food and water before being freed into the woodland.
